Two decades of global tobacco control: time for a rethink

Two decades after the adoption of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the introduction of its MPOWER implementation package, global declines in smoking prevalence have slowed, casting doubt on the adequacy of current tobacco control strategies. This Points of View article considers the effectiveness of MPOWER and questions the feasibility of nicotine eradication as a public health goal. Drawing on global and regional smoking prevalence data, we argue that the exclusive focus on cessation of nicotine use has reached diminishing returns. In contrast, countries where people who smoke have embraced safer nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and oral nicotine have seen accelerated reductions in smoking. We highlight the ethical and practical implications and propose an updated approach to tobacco control that incorporates harm reduction into FCTC governance, enabling clinicians and public health practitioners to provide cessation and risk-reduction advice tailored to individual needs. The issues raised in this article are particularly relevant for internists and general practitioners who encounter the clinical consequences of smoking every day in primary care and internal medicine settings. As the article highlights, without reform, the global target of meaningfully reducing the number of people who smoke will remain out of reach this century. A shift toward pragmatic, science-based strategies is urgently needed to reduce the global burden of smoking-related disease. By framing smoking not only as a public health challenge but also as a pressing clinical concern, the paper underscores the importance of integrating harm reduction perspectives into everyday patient care.