Less Harmful Coalition
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Less Harmful Coalition, Tobacco Tactics, updated 04 November 2022, accessed 11 April 2024.
Background
The Less Harmful Coalition describes itself as an “incorporated, not-for-profit organization”.1 It was first incorporated as a business in Canada, in September 2021, under a different name.234
Its stated mission is “to advance education and awareness of pragmatic approaches to less harmful substance use, mental health, and other harms impacting people and communities in Canada.”5
Relationship with the tobacco industry
The organisation is supported by Philip Morris International, via its Canadian subsidiary Rothmans, Benson & Hedges.5
Established as “Outfox Harm Reduction Coalition”
According to Canadian government registers, the organisation was incorporated as “Outfox Harm Reduction Coalition” in September 2021.234
The website initially used the same name and stated that it welcomed “prospective members who share our vision for pragmatic approaches to substance use.” 6 It did not reveal its funder.6
Belinda Fox, one of the coalition directors, had had previously been contracted by PMI via her company Outfox Communications (see below for details).
The website domain name lessharmful.com was registered in February 2022.7
Renamed “Harm Reduction Coalition”
By March 2022, the name “Outfox” was no longer included in the organisation’s name or website.8 The site now included sections on Tobacco Harm Reduction, Alcohol Harm Reduction, Psychedelics and Cannabis.8
At the time, Dr Jane Foster was listed as Director of the Harm Reduction Coalition and as “a consultant with the scientific engagement team at RBH, Inc.”910
The organisation held a Harm Reduction Forum in April 2022.1112
Foster was listed as a speaker.11
Foster is no longer listed on the website.5(See below for details of current Directors)
Renamed “Less Harmful Coalition”
By May 2022, the organisation had again been renamed, although the website URL remained unchanged.31314
The website originally stated that “Our directors have clinical and research expertise in the areas of mental health and addiction”.68 This phrase was removed between May and July 2022. 1315
Revealed tobacco industry funder
By mid-September 2022, the website had been redesigned. It stated clearly that it is supported by Rothmans, Benson and Hedges (RBH), a subsidiary of Philip Morris International (PMI).51514
The organisation web page also featured the logos of Canada-Alberta Job Grant, a programme funded by the Government of Alberta, Canada,16 and Venture for Canada, a charity supporting entrepreneurship, which receives funding from the Canadian government.17
Staff
As of October 2022, the following were listed:
- Belinda Fox, Director.4 Her company Outfox Communications conducted work for PMI in 2019/2020 to “help them [RBH] engage health care researchers and practitioners in order to share scientific clinical trial data for reduced risk nicotine products (within the parameters of Canada’s tobacco policy framework).”1819
Outfox organised an ‘Indigenous Harm Reduction Forum’ held on November 14, 2019 in Alberta, Canada, sponsored by RBH executive Jeff Gaulin gave the opening remarks, and referred to PMI’s promotional campaign ‘Unsmoke Canada’.20 For more on PMI’s ‘smoke-free’ campaigns see Philip Morris International. - Donald Makowichuk, Director.21
- Sumantra (Monty) Ghosh, Advisor.22
- Chase Miller, Communications.
- Dean Paddock, Consultant.
Activities
The Nicotine Debate
This event, held online on 28 September 2022,23 involved a “discussion on the science of reduced-risk nicotine products for adult smokers.”23
One speaker listed was Dr Rachel Murkett, Director of Biochromex, a life sciences company which has received funds from the PMI-funded Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW).23 For details see Foundation for a Smoke-Free World’s Tobacco Transformation Index.
Less Harmful Summit
The Less Harmful Coalition hosted a ‘Less Harmful Summit’ in Toronto, Canada, on October 26 2022.2425 Neither the event pages nor the Twitter profile mentioned RBH or PMI.242627
Earlier in 2022 the organization had approached academics to participate in a panel at the summit. An e-mail from the Speakers and Partners Lead to a UK academic, sent in July 2022, did not mention sponsorship by RBH.28 At that time there was no information about this sponsorship on the organisation’s website.15
Relevant Link
TobaccoTactics Resources
- Newer Nicotine and Tobacco Products: Philip Morris International
- Harm Reduction
- Third Party Techniques
