Catania, May 30, 2025 – Once again, on the occasion of No Tobacco Day 2025, CoEHAR is promoting a training day focused on anti-smoking awareness among medical students at the University of Catania. At the heart of the event’s discussions were the role of the new generations, the need to update anti-smoking policies, and the importance of science and technological innovation – including artificial intelligence – in smoking prevention and harm reduction.
“The goal of our work is to go beyond the confines of laboratories and provide younger generations with concrete and up-to-date tools to raise awareness about the harms of smoking and the importance of investing in one’s health,” said Prof. Giovanni Li Volti, Director of CoEHAR. “This year too, thanks to a high-level scientific program, we shared cutting-edge data with students and professionals, placing Italy at the center of the international debate on harm reduction. If young people are smoking, institutions have a duty to inform them about healthy lifestyles and consequences. Tomorrow’s doctors are a valuable resource for change.”
The event welcomed experts, medical trainees, and young people from across Italy, reaffirming the importance of dialogue between science and the new generations in promoting healthy lifestyles and informed choices.
“In Italy, we talk a lot about prevention, and projects and statements multiply, but when it comes to tackling smoking, we’re still at ground zero — that’s the truth,” said Prof. Riccardo Polosa, founder of CoEHAR. “We continue to rely on data that ignore scientific evidence. CoEHAR’s data on different populations show significant harm reduction for smokers with specific conditions (such as diabetes, hypertension, COPD, and schizophrenia). The Cochrane Library is one of the world’s leading sources of independent scientific evidence and has repeatedly demonstrated that combustion-free tools can reduce smoking-related harm and help smokers quit — even doubling the chances of quitting. Our focus must remain on young people, a vulnerable population we must protect from all forms of addiction. But this cannot be achieved through slogans — only through education, prevention, and constant engagement. To save lives, we need vision, courage, and innovation.”
During the conference, Prof. Pasquale Caponnetto and Dr. Noemi Vitale presented effective psychological approaches to help young people quit smoking, while Dr. Michele Compagnone illustrated the effects of smoking on fertility. Dr. Emanuela Tropea emphasized the importance of nutrition in prevention, and Prof. Davide Campagna and Dr. Francesca Cuccuzza shared updated data from the project evaluating the health status of smokers admitted to emergency rooms for smoking-related illnesses. Thanks to the collaboration with Caritas, Dr. Giovanni Mangano (psychologist) presented the latest updates on the support project for disadvantaged individuals who want to quit smoking.
At the heart of the event was the awards ceremony for the ideas competition promoted by LIAF, ECLAT, and CoEHAR, aimed at medical students from Italian universities. The winning project, selected for its innovation, effectiveness, and sustainability, was awarded by Prof. Giovanni Li Volti, together with Sergio Rassu (Chirone Moderno Editore) and Stefano Caliciuri (Editor-in-Chief of SigMagazine). The winner, student Andrea Panvini, presented a project called “Breath”, a digital app designed to support individuals in quitting smoking by offering a tailored experience through features such as progress tracking, gamification, daily coaching, and both online and in-person counseling.
CoEHAR thus reaffirms its commitment to engaging new generations in the promotion of healthy lifestyles and in spreading the culture of harm reduction, fully aware that the future of a smoke-free society depends on science, education, and scientific innovation.
