FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Avant-Premiere of “How Sweden Quit Smoking” in Stockholm: Experts Unite to Address Smoking Cessation
Stockholm, Sweden (February 14, 2024) — We Are Innovation organized in Stockholm for the exclusive premiere of the documentary. “How Sweden Quit Smoking”. Directed by the award-winning Polish director Tomasz Agencki, the movie reveals the fascinating story of how Sweden became a smoke-free nation, an unprecedented feat in modern times. Through interviews with scientists, doctors, innovators, and artists, Agencki narrates a captivating tale that examines the complex interplay of science, politics, history, and personal will behind this “Swedish miracle.”
Bringing the premiere to Sweden, where the documentary was produced, was a special honor for the team. This event was a testament to Sweden’s remarkable success in reducing smoking rates and the innovative approaches adopted in the country’s public health policies.
“The Swedish experience has the potential to inspire and motivate individuals and organizations worldwide in their fight against smoking. We are proud of our role in promoting this vital message and the valuable insights we were able to share with the audience during the panel discussion,” comments Federico N. Fernández, the CEO of We Are Innovation.
The premiere was followed by a panel discussion of Swedish experts, including MPs, medical doctors, and industry professionals, shedding light on Sweden’s successful approach to combating smoking.
Markus Lindblad from Hyapp Group stated, “I can talk about the level of unintended quitters in Sweden, snus vs nicotine pouches, as an example of the Swedish quit smoking effect from attractive noncombustible nicotine products.”
Emelie Nymans, Center Party Representative, said, “While research shows that pouches positively impact people’s health, this is still a relatively new product that should be consumed carefully. However, there are many different voices regarding it in the Union. This is not just a pragmatic discussion but a matter of personal liberty. This is also something to remember, but politicians should step back in regulating what people choose to consume.”
Carissa During, the Director of Considerate Pouchers, “Consumers do not want to give up nicotine and there are many reasons for that. This discussion is not only about policies but about the transition from cigarettes to pouches and snus. In Sweden, we can choose, and we have a common understanding that this is a safer option than smoking, but this is not always the case in the rest of the world, and work in the process. It is a matter of communication — not to say ‘safe,’ but ‘safer.’ If the WHO or other impactful organizations set the narrative of pouches as harmful, the consumers would not choose other options. Because if you don’t think that a certain product is safer, why would you switch?”
Dr. Anders Milton from the Snus Commission explained, “We only use the official statistics. It is very important for people to know the truth and make decisions based on their information and for this information to be accessible and transparent.”
Patrik Strömer from the Swedish Association of Snus Manufacturers said, “How come Sweden has the smoking rates in Europe? When the tobacco control people answer this question, which they quite often do not do, they say because of regulation and taxation. Alright, but why does the Swedish male population adopt that, and, as asked in a movie, not the female population? If you take snus out of the equation, you won’t be able to solve it, and that’s the main problem.”
Dr. Fredryk Nystrom from Linköping University shares the scientific experiment carried out by the researchers. “We carried on the experiment, and our prior interest lay in the absolute metabolic rate, which you need to measure every hour. With nicotine pouches, the only thing that changed was the 4-6 ml increase in blood pressure, which is equal to the impact of a cup of coffee on your body.”
The event provided a platform to showcase Sweden’s innovative strategies, offering inspiration and valuable lessons for other nations in their fight against smoking. By bringing together such a distinguished group of experts and hosting this unique event, We Are Innovation aims to encourage and empower individuals and organizations to take action toward reducing smoking rates worldwide.
ENDS
ABOUT WE ARE INNOVATION
We Are Innovation is a dynamic network of individuals and institutions who deeply believe in innovation’s power to drive progress and solve the world’s most pressing problems. With over 40 think tanks, foundations, and NGOs based worldwide, We Are Innovation represents the diverse voices of a global civil society committed to advancing human creativity, adopting new technologies, and promoting innovative solutions. Through our collaborative approach and cutting-edge expertise, we are driving global transformative change. To learn more about our work, visit us at https://weareinnovation.global/.
