Should nicotine be regulated like a narcotic? A Pacific nation makes the case

Vanuatu proposed on June 17, 2026, that nicotine be regulated as a narcotic, shifting focus from traditional tobacco smoking to the harms of nicotine vaping products. This proposal, outlined in a Nature commentary, argues that current international drug control conventions, such as the UN's 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, could be adapted to include nicotine. The authors, including Dr. Ridwanul Karim of the University of Dhaka and Dr. Ruth K. Malone of the University of California, San Francisco, highlight that while tobacco control has made progress, the rapid rise of nicotine vaping products presents a new public health challenge. They point to the addictive nature of nicotine and the potential for vapes to act as a gateway to other substance use, necessitating a re-evaluation of regulatory frameworks. The commentary suggests that classifying nicotine as a narcotic would enable stricter international controls on its production, distribution, and sale, similar to those applied to opioids and cocaine. This approach could empower nations to implement more robust policies to curb nicotine addiction, particularly among young people, and mitigate the health risks associated with vaping. The authors emphasize that such a regulatory shift would require a global consensus and potentially amendments to existing international treaties, but argue it is a necessary step to address the evolving landscape of nicotine consumption.