Introduction: Globally, the health issues caused by smoking have always been a focal point of public concern. Although quitting smoking is the most effective way to improve health, many smokers are unwilling or unable to do so for various reasons. WONZ, an innovative Heated Tobacco Product (HTP), offers a potential harm reduction alternative for these smokers.
Introduction to WONZ: WONZ is an innovative HTP device capable of directly heating conventional cigarettes without the need for specially designed tobacco products. This unique technology avoids the potential additive risks found in traditional HTPs, providing smokers with a safer smoking method.
Analysis of the Paper: According to the latest research findings, WONZ demonstrated significant harm reduction effects in a randomized controlled trial involving Chinese adult smokers who were unwilling to quit. The study showed that using the WONZ device to heat conventional cigarettes significantly reduced levels of various health-related biomarkers (BoEs), including 3-HPMA, CEMA, MHBMA, 1-OHP, and eCO, with reductions ranging from 26.4% to 71.4%.
Harm Reduction Efficacy: The harm reduction efficacy of the WONZ device is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
- Reduced Exposure to Harmful Chemicals: WONZ effectively reduces exposure to a variety of harmful or potentially harmful chemicals (HPHCs) through a low-temperature separation process.
- Maintained Nicotine Intake Levels: Despite reduced BoE levels, there were no significant changes in urine cotinine levels, indicating that WONZ provides a stable sense of nicotine satisfaction while reducing exposure to harmful substances.
- Improved Smoking Patterns: Over half of the participants in the study completely switched to heated cigarettes during the flexible use period, experiencing reduced smoking cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Safety and Acceptability: The WONZ device showed good safety in the study, with most adverse events (AEs) being mild to moderate, and no serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred. Additionally, participants rated the device highly in terms of satisfaction, taste, and belief in harm reduction, indicating a high level of acceptance of WONZ as an alternative to smoking.
Conclusion and Outlook: As an innovative HTP device, WONZ offers a potential short-term harm reduction option for smokers who are unwilling to quit. However, the study also pointed out that WONZ may lead some smokers to become dual users and increase tobacco consumption. Therefore, more research is needed in the future to verify the long-term safety and specific health impacts of WONZ.
Learn more about WONZ by visiting our website 温致科技 (wonz.com) or follow our social media platforms.
