Australian law enforcement agencies seized more than $2.5 million in illegal tobacco products and over $1 million in cash following a joint investigation across Tasmania and Victoria, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Two men appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on August 12, 2026, facing charges related to dealing with the proceeds of … Read more
Only 13 low- and middle-income countries currently provide the comprehensive support needed for smokers to quit, leaving approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide without access to effective care. According to research from the University of York, New York University, and Harvard University, this gap persists despite tobacco remaining the leading cause of preventable death, resulting in … Read more
A new international study reveals that global tobacco control campaigns have failed to bridge a critical knowledge gap over two decades, leaving millions of smokers unaware that tobacco causes heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular disease. According to research published in BMJ Open by teams at the University of Waterloo and the U.S. Centers for Disease … Read more
Controlled breathing interventions can reduce cravings in people who use substances, including alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, according to a new review published in the scientific journal Addiction. The study combined results from 20 studies involving 1,249 total participants, shedding new light on low-cost therapeutic add-ons for addiction treatment. How Controlled Breathing Reduces Substance Cravings … Read more
Did you know? ## National Health Data Tracks E-Cigarette Rise To understand how tobacco use patterns are evolving, researchers analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey covering 2015 through 2023. Michael Cummings, Ph.D., the year 2015 served as the baseline because electronic cigarettes began gaining widespread popularity then. The study distinguished between combustible products … Read more
The updated ABCs of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention framework, published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology in 2026, provides a standardized, evidence-based roadmap for clinicians to manage heart health across a patient’s lifespan. By integrating tools like the PREVENT™ risk scoring system and addressing Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome, the framework shifts clinical focus toward early, … Read more
Reminders of collective trauma trigger immediate spikes in cannabis and tobacco cravings, according to a study published in the Journal of Health Psychology. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that exposure to existential threats prompts a reflexive psychological defense mechanism rather than a simple habit-based response, as regular users seek to suppress thoughts … Read more
The Vaping Black Market: Why Victoria’s New Laws Might Be Missing the Mark The Victorian government is tightening the screws on illicit tobacco, introducing legislation that would empower authorities to shut down shops caught selling illegal products for 90 days. But there is a glaring hole in this strategy: the law fails to specifically target … Read more
Beyond the Cloud: Why “One Size Fits All” Vaping Research Is Failing For years, the public health debate surrounding e-cigarettes has been binary: is vaping safer than smoking, or is it just as dangerous? New research suggests we’ve been asking the wrong question. It’s not just about whether you vape; it’s about how you vape. … Read more
For years, the gold standard for medical knowledge has been the randomized controlled trial (RCT). While these trials are essential, they often exist in a “perfect” environment that doesn’t always mirror the messy, complex reality of daily clinical practice. That is changing. As presented at the latest EULAR Congress, the integration of real-world evidence (RWE) … Read more