A NEW international study suggests that heated tobacco products (HTPs) are not a gateway to smoking. Researchers from the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade found that HTPs may actually help smokers quit.

The study surveyed 4,514 adults and found that 99.4 percent of HTP users either switched from traditional cigarettes or were dual users. Only 0.6 percent were new smokers. Experts say the rapid adoption of HTPs in Korea presents an opportunity to study the reasons behind the switch, which could inform tobacco regulatory policies.

They cited data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showing that 99.4 percent of HTP users either switched from traditional cigarettes or are dual users, with only 0.6 percent being new smokers.

Experts said the rapid adoption of HTPs in Korea presents an opportunity to study the reasons behind the switch, which could inform tobacco regulatory policies.

HTPs are smoke-free products designed to heat tobacco instead of burning it. This process reduces the levels of harmful chemicals compared to traditional cigarettes. The US Food and Drug Administration says that tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals, and it is this mix of chemicals—not nicotine—that causes serious health problems.

Unlike traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco, HTPs heat the tobacco, resulting in reduced levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarette smoke. This innovative technology offers an alternative for adult smokers who might otherwise continue using conventional cigarettes.

Anton Israel, president of the Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines, said the Korean study demonstrates how technology can mitigate the risks associated with nicotine consumption. “Nicotine isn’t the problem; it’s the way it’s delivered through combustion,” he said.

Traditional cigarettes burn tobacco at high temperatures, producing smoke and ash that contain toxicants. In contrast, HTPs heat tobacco below the combustion point, releasing a nicotine-containing vapor instead of smoke.

In the Philippines, nearly a million former smokers have transitioned away from traditional smoking with the help of smoke-free products. The country also enacted legislation to regulate these innovative products to ensure they remain inaccessible to minors.

Smoking-related diseases are responsible for over 8 million deaths each year. Studies have shown that smoke-free products emit aerosols or vapors with 95% fewer harmful chemicals than the smoke produced by traditional cigarettes. Israel said smoke-free products, including HTPs, vapes, and oral nicotine pouches, allow smokers to drastically reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals.

The Korean study also concluded that adolescents are more likely to start smoking with traditional cigarettes rather than HTPs. Among the study’s participants, 2,356 were non-smokers, 1,316 were traditional cigarette smokers, and 842 were HTP users.

The study also highlights that adult females, individuals with higher education levels, those with children, office workers, and those with heightened health concerns were more likely to switch from traditional cigarettes to HTPs. Adult females aged 20 to 39 were more inclined to switch to HTPs, regardless of income, while males over 40 were more likely to adopt HTPs if they had higher incomes.

Since the introduction of heated tobacco products in Korea in 2017, the HTP market share has grown significantly—from 2.2% of total tobacco sales in the first year to 12% in the first half of 2021.

The shift from traditional cigarettes could have public health benefits, as scientific studies suggest that the harmful effects of smoking primarily stem from the combustion process, which HTPs avoid.