ENSP envisions a tobacco free future, in which no European will have to suffer from tobacco related illnesses and early death. All our constant efforts are concentrated towards providing children and young people the freedom to grow up independently and in good health, without being coaxed into a lifetime of addiction.
Reaching the objective of reducing tobacco use to below 5% by 2040, as specified also in the ENSP Statutes from 2011, will depend on sustained commitment, coordinated action, and a strong emphasis on prevention. By prioritizing youth protection and addressing nicotine dependence at its source, the European Union can make meaningful progress toward a healthier, more resilient future.
As we have outlined in our Treatment of Tobacco and Nicotine Dependence Guidelines 2026, tobacco use not only constitutes a great addiction, but is also a fatal trap from which we want to help smokers escape. Our aim is to establish a wider coherence among smoking prevention activities, as well as promote comprehensive tobacco and nicotine control policies at a European and national level.
Alternative nicotine products have gained rapid popularity, contributing to new and long‑term dependencies at a time when smoking rates had been declining. This trend has been reported to be of great public concern in several countries. Nicotine consumption is particularly concerning for young people and adolescents, whose developing brains are more vulnerable to nicotine and for whom nicotine addiction poses severe risks.
Despite this rapidly evolving landscape, tobacco legislation has not been updated for over a decade. Regulations and public health protections are uneven across Europe and simply do not address the challenges we now face.
This social media toolkit contains materials to help you communicate about the evolving tobacco and nicotine landscape. Through simple, evidence-based messages and ready-to-use assets, our aim is to empower expert voices to speak out collectively and support efforts to move toward a tobacco- and nicotine-free future in Europe.
Themes, key messages and facts
Evidence-based messages, grouped under 4 key themes, with fully referenced data points and facts.
Ready-to-use social media graphics and captions
Each theme has ready-to-use graphics and example captions that you can post on social media.
Call-to-action (CTA) guide
Examples of CTAs you can use in your social posts to help encourage further sharing and engagement.
Hashtags guide
A list of relevant hashtags you can add to your posts to help increase the visibility of your content.
Guidance on editing templates
Simple guidance on how to edit social media graphics, which are hosted on the free design platform Canva.
Using this toolkit responsibly Things to keep in mind when using this toolkit.
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