NICE Citizens Council to discuss harm reduction in smoking

Ref: 2009/058

Press release issued: 9 October 2009

The Citizens Council of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which provides public input into the Institute's work, will hold its next meeting in London from 15 to 16 October 2009. At this meeting the Citizens Council will be asked to consider the strategy of harm reduction with regard to smoking - an approach not currently used in the UK. The Citizens Council will hear evidence from speakers covering all aspects of this topic, before taking part in thorough discussions to examine the issues in detail.

The Citizens Council consists of a diverse group of 30 individuals, reflecting the age, gender, socioeconomic status and ethnicity of the people of England and Wales. The council meets twice a year to hear expert information on challenging topics and thoroughly discuss the issues raised. It is a formal committee of the Institute, helping identify broad social values and how NICE might apply them in preparing its guidance.

Sir Michael Rawlins, Chair of NICE, said: “The Citizens Council makes an important contribution to the work of NICE by enabling it to take the views of the general public into account when undertaking its work. Since it was set up, the Citizens Council has provided valuable input on a range of issues including patient safety, health inequalities, and ‘only in research' recommendations.

“This time, the Citizens Council is asked to consider harm reduction in smoking. Whereas smoking cessation strategies are familiar - helping smokers to quit both smoking and their reliance on nicotine completely - the concept of harm reduction in smoking has a different focus. Instead, it aims to reduce the harm associated with smoking cigarettes for people who cannot quit. This may include replacing cigarettes with a clean form of nicotine, or with cigarettes which intend to deliver lower levels of toxins. In this scenario, nicotine continues to be provided through a less harmful method than by standard smoking.

“Harm reduction approaches may be seen as contentious in some fields - there is a question of whether this concept conflicts with traditional smoking cessation as it does not necessarily seek to help people stop smoking altogether, nor does it treat nicotine addiction. What would this approach mean for the goal of having a smoke free society? We are keen to hear from the Citizens Council on precisely this kind of difficult social values issue, as it will help provide guidance to our independent advisory committees should they be required to make recommendations involving this approach.”

A report on the Council's views will be available on the NICE website for public comment, before the Council submits a report to the Board of NICE setting out its findings.

Notes to Editors

1. A limited number of places will be available to attend the presentations on Thursday 15 October and Friday 16 October. Journalists interested in attending should contact the NICE Press Office on 0845 003 7782 for further information. Other potential attendees should contact Clifford Middleton (Clifford.middleton@nice.org.uk) to request a place.

About NICE

2. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health.

3. NICE produces guidance in three areas of health:

• public health - guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention of ill health for those working in the NHS, local authorities and the wider public and voluntary sector
• health technologies - guidance on the use of new and existing medicines, treatments and procedures within the NHS
• clinical practice - guidance on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions within the NHS.