J&J and WHO extend worldwide support for smoking cessation

On ‘World No Tobacco Day’ (May 31), Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health and the WHO under the Access Initiative for Quitting Tobacco marked the first anniversary of their partnership supporting countries in facilitating the improvement of public health through smoking cessation.​

In partnership with the World Health Organisation, Johnson & Johnson’s Nicorette brand is supporting communities with some of the highest rates of tobacco use in the world.

While 60 per cent of the 1.3 billion tobacco users globally have expressed a desire to quit, only 30 per cent have access to the support and tools necessary to help them to do so successfully.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, nearly one-third of smokers in the UK report smoking more-a habit linked to increased risk of severe illness.

To-date, J&J has donated $800,000 or £56, 3640 of NRT products to Jordan- where smoking contributes to 80 per cent of premature deaths.

The funds used to support thousands of front-line workers and patients with non-communicable diseases to quit smoking during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.

“The donation of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has enabled the Ministry of Health in Jordan to scale its comprehensive smoking cessation services, providing over 5,400 people with nicotine patches combined with personal counselling and digital support,” Johnson & Johnson said in an update on it efforts to support smokers to quit their habbit.

William Twomey, senior director Smoking Cessation Franchise, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health said: “It is with the commitment and support of partners, government and other stakeholders, that we are able to work toward creating greater equity and access to NRTs in the more than 65 countries currently being served by Nicorette.”

“At Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, we recognize that communities around the world need support to address this public health crisis, which has been exacerbated by Covid-19. This unmet need is a major driver behind the partnership with the WHO to reduce tobacco-related harm with smoking cessation initiatives and expanded access to NRTs where they are needed most.”

Vinayak Prasad, head of the No Tobacco Unit at the WHO said: "Studies show that nicotine replacement therapies like gums and patches can double your chances of quitting. The WHO welcomed the partnership with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health to help get gums and patches into the hands of people wanting to quit to lower their risk of severe Covid-19.”