Tobacco News and Research

RSS

New role for GLP-1 drugs: Improving survival in people with severe psychiatric disorders

This editorial argues that GLP-1 receptor agonists could substantially improve healthspan and reduce premature mortality in people with serious mental illnesses by targeting cardiometabolic risk rather than psychiatric symptoms alone. It highlights emerging evidence, safety considerations, and equity challenges that position GLP-1 RAs as a promising public health strategy for this high-risk population.

25 Jan 2026

Nearly half of adults now live with heart disease as obesity and diabetes surge

The 2026 American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report shows that nearly half of adults are living with cardiovascular disease, with cardiometabolic risk factors projected to rise substantially by 2050. Despite progress in smoking reduction and cholesterol control, worsening obesity, diabetes, hypertension, sleep health, and persistent inequities threaten future cardiovascular health.

22 Jan 2026

Reducing alcohol consumption could significantly lower cancer deaths

Reducing annual alcohol consumption in Australia by one litre a person could significantly lower deaths from several major cancers, particularly among older Australians, a new study led by La Trobe University has found.

21 Jan 2026

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs show early promise for treating addiction

This systematic review evaluates preclinical and clinical evidence on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as potential treatments for substance use disorders. Findings show consistent reductions in drug- and alcohol-seeking behaviors in animal models, while human evidence remains limited, heterogeneous, and preliminary.

21 Jan 2026

Tracing the decline in American heart disease mortality

Following a five-year upward trend likely impacted by the COVID pandemic, the number of heart disease and stroke deaths has declined, yet, heart disease and stroke still kill more people in the U.S. each year than any other cause, according to data reported in the 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of U.S. and Global Data From the American Heart Association.

21 Jan 2026

Lung cancer deaths leveling off for EU women, except in Spain

After increasing for more than 25 years, lung cancer death rates are finally levelling off among women in European Union (EU) countries apart from Spain, according to predictions of mortality rates from the disease for 2026.

19 Jan 2026

Expanded school tobacco prevention in California is linked to lower youth vaping and smoking

A statewide evaluation found that California schools receiving TUPE funding delivered more antitobacco education and activities and reported lower student tobacco use than non-funded schools. The association was driven mainly by reduced vaping, within a broader environment of strong statewide tobacco control.

18 Jan 2026

Cancer mortality drops 34% as treatments and early detection improve

The 2026 cancer statistics reveal improved survival rates but highlight persistent inequities in cancer incidence and mortality across different populations.

16 Jan 2026

Smoking cessation apps can boost quit rates, especially alongside medication

Smartphone apps show promise in smoking cessation, outperforming minimal support and enhancing traditional interventions, according to a recent meta-analysis.

16 Jan 2026

Smoking cessation drug shows promise for treating cannabis use disorder

A new randomized controlled trial has found promising evidence that the smoking cessation medication varenicline (Chantix/Champix) can help people with cannabis use disorder (CUD) to reduce cannabis use.

15 Jan 2026

WHO urges stronger taxes to curb sugary drink and alcohol consumption

Sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages are getting cheaper, due to consistently low tax rates in most countries, fueling obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers and injuries, especially in children and young adults.

13 Jan 2026

Digital interventions for alcohol and cannabis use among young adults show potential to reduce harms

Young adults today are digital natives-naturally fluent with devices and online platforms-so some of their most effective behavioral-health interventions will likely arrive in their pockets via text, app, or other mobile medium.

12 Jan 2026

Researchers identify possible target for new therapies against periodontitis aggravated by smoking

Smoking tobacco is known to worsen symptoms of periodontitis and reduce responsiveness to treatment. Using high-resolution spatial transcriptomics, researchers identified differences between smokers and non-smokers in the expression of genes that weaken gum epithelial integrity and cause bone damage through inflammation.

12 Jan 2026

California's school-based tobacco prevention program linked to lower youth smoking, vaping rates

Researchers from University of California San Diego report that an expanded, school-based tobacco prevention program in California was associated with significantly lower rates of smoking and vaping among middle and high school students.

12 Jan 2026

Study: Extended MOUD treatment significantly increases survival probability

A new study of over 32,000 US Veterans has found that the longer people stay on medications for opioid use disorder (buprenorphine, methadone, or extended-release naltrexone), the greater the probability of short- and medium-term survival. This benefit continues to increase at least for four years of ongoing treatment, considerably longer than most patients currently stay in treatment.

8 Jan 2026

Higher intake of food preservatives linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes

Higher consumption of food preservatives, widely used in industrially processed foods and beverages to extend their shelf life, has been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

7 Jan 2026

Alcohol consumption plays a major role in India’s mouth cancer burden

Even a low daily intake of alcohol--just 9 g or around one standard drink-is linked to a 50% heightened risk of mouth (buccal mucosa) cancer in India, with the greatest risk associated with locally brewed alcohol, finds a large comparative study, published online in the open access journal BMJ Global Health.

23 Dec 2025

Oral health gains global recognition in WHO NCD declaration

The European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) welcomes the adoption of the WHO political declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health at the Eightieth United Nations General Assembly, recognizing it as a major step forward for integrated, people-centred health systems.

19 Dec 2025

Guns marketed for personal safety fuel public health crisis in Black communities

Leon Harris, 35, is intimately familiar with the devastation guns can inflict. Robbers shot him in the back nearly two decades ago, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. The bullet remains lodged in his spine.

19 Dec 2025

Folate deficiency drives genetic changes linked to lung cancer

Genetic alterations lie at the heart of cancer development, but scientists may have been overlooking a powerful driver of these changes—the everyday nutrients that feed our cells.

18 Dec 2025