The feeling was one of anticipation and curiosity when land was in sight towards Visby harbor. The boat was filled to the last seat where most passengers had set their sights on experiencing Almedal Week 2022. One note was that many this year chose the sea route over airborne travel. The number of visitors was estimated at 40,000 during the 5 days from 3–7 July to choose from the 2000 program items. The lower number compared to previous years proved to be positive in terms of accessibility to seminars and finding an opportunity to dialogue with the desired person as well as a place to eat and a taxi if necessary.
Professional Associations Against Tobacco and Tobacco Facts had a full day at the Best Western Hotel Strand on Tuesday with five seminars and a luncheon.
First up was the organization Psychologists Against Tobacco , which also involves sociologists and public health scientists. A review of the laws and regulations that form the basis for measures, including in the tobacco prevention area at the local level. Here, the broad responsibility of municipalities in schools and elderly care was highlighted. The political parties' stance on tobacco prevention measures, such as tobacco-free school hours and regulation of new nicotine products, was presented (Non Smoking Generation, 2022).
Another seminar focused on the importance of knowledge. A presentation of a publication produced by the organization on “Tobacco and young people – a knowledge overview of tobacco prevention work”. The content includes 14 chapters that address, among other things, children's rights in the tobacco issue, harm, habits and products, methods, and the environment and sustainability ( www.tobaksstopp.nu ).
“Tackling Tobacco in Dental Care – We Have the Keys to a Nicotine-Free Sweden” was the resolute headline of Dental Care Against Tobacco . Concerns about the effects on children’s oral health and early addiction to nicotine, where white snus has been made particularly attractive to children and young people, were in focus. As all children are reached through dental care with a statutory right to free dental care up to the age of 23, the chairmen of the Swedish Dental Association, the Swedish Dental Nurses Association and the Swedish Dental Hygienists Association emphasized the preventive mission of dental care.
Johanna Reuterving Smajic gave a clear and engaging review of new nicotine products on the market.
The Nurses Against Tobacco seminar was entitled “Good and equal health for all – how do we get there?” The Public Health Agency of Sweden presented “Public Health Development – Annual Report 2022”, which shows that public health is generally good but is unevenly distributed between different groups in society. This is reflected, among other things, in life expectancy and between educational level and gender. A panel from various professional organizations discussed measures and collaboration in the work to improve living habits in vulnerable groups.
Tobacco Facts participated together with the think tanks Nocturum, IOGT-NTO, Narcotics Policy Center and Djurens Rätt in a debate on “The consuming industries and the profiteers of ill health – how long will they be around?” The topic attracted many listeners and representatives of the industries were able to hear about their downfall from several perspectives, not least from a sustainability perspective.
At Donner's Place, dancing children from Visby Dance School performed an attention-grabbing flashmob with the message of a nicotine-free future. It showed the vitality and joy of children and young people and the responsibility of adults to protect and defend them from the tobacco industry.
Below you can see all seminars from the program schedule.
July 4th 9:00 – 10:00
CAN – Central Association for Alcohol and Drug Information
What is the use of tobacco and new nicotine products like in Sweden?
contribute:
- Charlotta Rehnman Wigstad, Moderator, Central Association for Alcohol and Drug Information
- Martina Zetterqvist, Investigator, Central Association for Alcohol and Drug Information
- Barbro Westerholm, Member of Parliament, Liberal Party
- Mats Wiking, Member of Parliament, Social Democrats
- Anette Jansson, interest policy expert, Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation
Location: Building B, Uppsala University, Main entrance Cramérgatan 3, "B15".
July 5 9:00 -10:00
Psychologists against Tobacco
Knowledge support about tobacco – what is available and what is needed at the local level
What credible sources are there for voluntary organizations and municipalities that implement and organize tobacco prevention work? What knowledge support is possibly missing?
contribute: Vidar Albinsson, member, development strategist, Psychologists Against Tobacco
Plats: Strandgatan 34, Best Western Strand Hotel
Read more about the seminar here
July 5, 10:00-12:00
Nocturum Think Tank, IOGT-NTO, Drug Policy Center, Animal Rights, Tobacco Facts, independent think tank
The consuming industries and unhealthy profiteers – How long will they last?
We see how health consequences cause parts of these industries to react and that they are challenged by other goods and products, and changed lifestyles, but despite this they are very strong. Should we accept that people get sick and maybe even get sick unnecessarily? Shouldn't our unfortunately limited healthcare resources be invested in treating diseases that people suffer from through no fault of their own? The conversation will feature Peter Moilanen (head of the Swedish Drug Policy Center), Lucas Nilsson (chairman of IOGT-NTO), Camilla Bergvall (chairman of Djurens rätt) and Lena Sjöberg (chairman of Tobacco Facts). Farida al-Abani from the Nocturum think tank will moderate the conversation.
contribute:
- Farida Al Albani, Secretary General, Nocturum Think Tank
- Lena Sjöberg, legal dental chair, Tobacco Facts
- Peter Moilanen, Director, Drug Policy Center
- Lucas Nilsson, Chairman, IOGT-NTO
- Camilla Bergvall, chairwoman, Animal Rights
Location: Strandgatan 34, Best Western Strand Hotel, “Furilden”
Read more about the seminar here
July 5th 11:00 -12:00
Psychologists against Tobacco
Tobacco prevention work in municipalities
New recruitment of nicotine addicts occurs among children in municipalities. What different conditions are there for a municipality to resist the influence of the tobacco industry?
contribute:
- Vidar Albinsson, member, development strategist Värnamo Municipality, Psychologists Against Tobacco
- Farida Al Albani, tobacco expert, Psychologists Against Tobacco
Location: Strandgatan 34, Best Western Strand Hotel
Read more about the seminar here
July 5, 10:00-12:00
Dental care against Tobacco
Tackling tobacco in dental care, we have the keys to a nicotine-free Sweden
From brown and outside to white, fresh and inside. Children and young people are being tricked into nicotine addiction while the adult world stands indifferent. It is a major political issue that needs to be resolved at a political level if dental care is to succeed in helping our children and young people to freedom from tobacco and nicotine.
The seminar presents the latest research on nicotine and provides information about new nicotine products that are being offered, not least digitally. It is a new world for the uninitiated, and a golden calf for the tobacco industry. Laws exist and will come, but the loopholes are numerous and difficult to predict. Are nicotine products really tobacco-free when the nicotine is extracted from the tobacco plant? How is tobacco cultivation affected by the environment? What happens to our immediate environment when cigarette butts and cigarette butts are thrown on the streets and in nature? There are many difficult questions, and we discuss the answers together with experts and representatives of dental care.
contribute:
- Birgitta Enmark, vice president, dental hygienist, Dentistry against Tobacco
- Johanna Reuterving Smajic, member, dental hygienist, Dentistry against Tobacco
- Inger Eriksson, member dental nurse, Dentistry against Tobacco
- Chaim Zlotnik, Chairman of the Swedish Dental Association
- Yvonne Nyblom, Chairman of the Dental Hygiene Association, Swedish Dental Hygiene Association
- Lena Sjöberg, Chairman of the Dental Council, Dentistry Against Tobacco
Location: Strandgatan 34, Best Western Strand Hotel
Read more about the seminar here
July 5, 10:00-12:00
Nurses Against Tobacco
Good and equal health for all – how do we get there?
National guidelines exist for the care and treatment of these, but evaluation shows that many patients are not offered the support they need. To reduce unequal health, healthcare efforts need to reach the groups where the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle habits is greatest. How do we get there? The goal for a Smoke-Free Sweden – 2025 is that less than 5% of the population smokes. The Public Health Agency's latest statistics from 2021 in the national public health survey show that the goal is close – 6 percent daily smokers among adults – equal for both women and men. But the statistics also show that the habit is unequally distributed in the population. For people with a short education, 13 percent smoke daily compared to 3 percent for those with a long education. Daily smoking is also more common among people with differences in social and economic conditions as well as functional level. How can the efforts be designed and what support is required to achieve equality?
contribute:
- Ann Post, moderator, vice president, Nurses Against Tobacco
- Sofia Shakibi, company nurse, Stockholm University
- Josefin Jonsson, Head of Unit, Tobacco Prevention Unit, Swedish Public Health Agency
- Inger Torpenberg, expert, Swedish Nurses Association
- Ida Kåhlin, Chairwoman, Swedish Occupational Therapists
- Mikaela Odenmyr, chairwoman, Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association
Location : Strandgatan 34, Best Western Strand Hotel, “Furilden”
