Lil Solid: a more affordable option for heated tobacco products in Guatemala

Heated tobacco product (HTP) availability and use have increased worldwide.1 HTPs heat a special tobacco stick to produce an aerosol that the consumer inhales. Most large transnational tobacco companies now market HTPs, often as a harm reduction option.1 2 Since 2014, the HTP market has grown from 15 million to nearly 125 billion sticks sold worldwide in 2021.3 HTPs are now available in 71 countries, 30 of which are low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Phillip Morris International’s (PMI’s) IQOS has dominated the global HTP market.1

According to PMI, by March 2017, HTPs had high adoption rates and stated that demand continued to outstrip supply.4 Research has raised concerns that HTPs are marketed as a high-tech aspirational product that mostly appeals to youth and young adults.5 6 A 2020 adolescent survey in Guatemala City found that 52.4% were…

Read the full article ›