Should nicotine be regulated like a narcotic? A Pacific nation makes the case

The Republic of Palau has already banned vapes. Credit: Golden_Brown/Getty More than a billion people are dependent on nicotine globally. Now, a tiny archipelago in the Pacific Ocean known for its spectacular coral reefs wants to change that. The Republic of Palau has asked the United Nations to review the harm caused by the highly addictive substance found in tobacco and vaping products. The nation wants nicotine to be added to a list of substances that the organization regulates, which include narcotics and psychotropic drugs such as amphetamines. It would effectively make it illegal to sell products containing nicotine that are not considered medicinal, says Renee Bittoun, a nicotine-treatment specialist at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia. Although Bittoun thinks it is unlikely that nicotine will be added to the list, because tobacco companies will argue strongly against this. Around 1.2 billion people use tobacco and at least 100 million people use electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes, according to the World Health Organization. The dangers of smoking are well known, increasing a person’s risk of developing heart disease and stroke, as well as many cancers. Tobacco smoking kills more than 7 million people each year, including 1.6 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke. In the past decade, vapes have become more popular, particularly among young people, who are nine times more likely to vape than are adults. …