By Pippa Starr
15 January 2025
Professor Marewa Glover is a distinguished behavioral scientist and public health advocate from New Zealand, celebrated for her pioneering work in tobacco harm reduction. With over 30 years of experience in tobacco control, her research and advocacy have focused on reducing smoking-related harms, particularly among Indigenous populations, including Māori communities, who face disproportionately high smoking rates.
Professor Glover’s career is marked by a steadfast commitment to addressing the health inequities caused by smoking. She has championed harm reduction strategies that prioritize empowering individuals to transition away from combustible tobacco. Her work has influenced policies and public health practices globally, emphasizing that vaping, as a safer alternative, is a vital tool in reducing smoking-related diseases and premature deaths.
Her work acknowledges the devastating impact of smoking on vulnerable populations while advocating for access to effective quitting aids like vaping. She highlights vaping's ability to save lives by offering a less harmful alternative to combustible cigarettes, particularly for people who have struggled to quit through traditional methods.
A Personal and Public Message of Hope
Reflecting on the realities of smoking and its toll on health, Glover recently shared the story of a friend whose life journey exemplifies the potential of vaping as a harm reduction tool:
"Today I attended a wake for an old friend who died New Year’s Eve. For most of their younger years, she and her husband smoked. In recent years, vaping helped her quit smoking and then she weaned off vaping. With the help of vaping, her husband has progressively cut down smoking and is nearly off his one smoke a day. They both had poor health and smoking-related diseases by the time vaping came along. Still, stopping smoking can extend life even later in life. This is why I have worked for 30+ years to reduce smoking and why I have advocated for people who smoke to have access to vaping—one of the most effective ways to quit."
This narrative underscores Glover’s belief in the transformative power of harm reduction strategies. Her personal connection to those affected by smoking-related diseases motivates her advocacy for evidence-based solutions like vaping, which is at least 95% safer than smoking and twice as effective as nicotine patches.
Professor Glover is also vocal about the challenges posed by widespread misinformation about vaping. She critiques the propagation of unscientific claims that demonize vaping, emphasizing the need for informed, rational discussions:
"The misinformation and outright lies about vaping are astounding... The truth is that vaping is up to or more than 95% less risky to health than smoking. To maintain sanity in the current world: Retain a healthy skepticism, employ common sense, and check out what experts in the topic are saying."
Her advocacy encourages individuals to critically evaluate claims, seek evidence-based insights, and resist reactionary, fear-driven narratives. Glover calls for compassion and rationality in public health discourse, emphasizing the importance of harm reduction to save lives.
Professor Glover’s work resonates with those who have been personally affected by smoking-related harms. By highlighting stories of success through vaping, challenging unfounded fears, and advocating for equitable access to harm reduction tools, she provides a beacon of hope for smokers seeking to quit and policymakers grappling with complex health decisions.
Her public messaging extends beyond advocacy to educate communities about the importance of harm reduction, fostering informed decision-making and bridging gaps in public understanding.
Professor Marewa Glover’s dedication to tobacco harm reduction has made her a leading voice in global public health. Her work not only saves lives but also inspires a paradigm shift in how we approach smoking cessation. By championing evidence-based strategies and dispelling myths, Glover continues to make a profound positive impact on individuals and communities worldwide. Through her ongoing efforts, she advocates for a future where everyone has the opportunity to live healthier, smoke-free lives.
Recently, Marewa (in an independent capacity) became an ALIVE Honorary Advisory Advocate.
Her other work: