Rachael Joyner’s journey from learner to Duke clinician showcases the transformational impact of the Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program.

Tobacco use is often framed as a physical health issue—but its impact on mental health is just as significant. Many patients believe smoking helps manage stress, anxiety, or mood symptoms. In reality, the evidence increasingly shows the opposite: quitting tobacco can meaningfully improve mental well-being across multiple domains.

In the last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began publicly acknowledging harm reduction as a legitimate principle within its regulatory framework. Through its Premarket Tobacco Product Application process, companies can gain authorization to sell their products in the U.S. An important distinction here is that these products are not recognized by the FDA as being safe or approved for treatment of tobacco use disorder.

The Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program is excited to announce the expansion of our free Essential Tobacco Treatment Toolkit—a comprehensive resource designed to improve access to evidence-based tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment. The updated toolkit now includes an even wider range of materials created to support both clinicians and individuals who want to quit tobacco.

Though thousands of flavored and disposable vapes may disappear from store shelves across the country, tobacco prevention and control and health policy experts warn that these bans aren’t enough to protect youth.

As the landscape of e-cigarette use continues to evolve in the US, research has been mounting on the potential health harms. Previous studies have shown that e-cigarette use contributes to heart and lung disease. Now, a recent case control study conducted in Ohio shows a potential link between dual use – smoking both cigarettes and vaping – and an increased risk of lung cancer. The bottom line: those who smoke and vape have increased lung cancer risk.