October 26, 2026
Smoking rates are down, but what people smoke and how they consume nicotine has changed. Vaping and nicotine pouches are increasingly part of the landscape, raising an important question for employers: How broadly should they define smoking when some alternatives to cigarettes may also help people quit? Cessation programs may need to evolve to account for different patterns of use, relative risk, and the role various products can play in helping employees move away from cigarettes.
Dr. Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, joins the podcast to examine the evidence behind tobacco cessation and alternative nicotine delivery. How do cigarettes, e-cigarettes and nicotine patches, gums, and pouches compare? What are the relative risks? Can e-cigarettes help people stop smoking?
From medications and behavioral support to digital tools and financial incentives, Hartmann-Boyce explores what works, what remains uncertain, and what employers should know as they evaluate whether their cessation strategies reflect today’s changing tobacco and nicotine landscape.
SPEAKERS
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce | Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst
LuAnn Heinen | Business Group on Health
Duration 33 min
