ASH investigates many different approaches to tobacco endgame. One of these paths is through integrating nicotine control and regulation within the United Nations Narcotics System.

At the September 2026 UN General Assembly, the President of Palau called for stronger international cooperation to protect young people from nicotine dependence, warning that no country should have to choose between its children’s health and an industry built on addiction. Watch the video here and below>

Palau has backed these words with action. Recently, the Republic of Palau became the first nation to formally request that the United Nations review nicotine for possible inclusion under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, triggering the first World Health Organization Scientific Committee review of nicotine in nearly three decades. This formal notification to the UN Secretary-General is setting in motion the procedure for the first-ever independent scientific review of nicotine by the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence.

On October 19, 2026, ASH Executive Director Laurent Huber made an oral statement at the open session of the 49th WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD ) as a follow up to Palau’s request to initiate a WHO critical review of nicotine under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Watch the statements from Huber and the First Lady of Palau below.

The same day, Action on Smoking and Health and more than 100 organizations from 47 countries across the 6 WHO regions submitted a joint letter to ECDD to support Palau’s request to initiate a WHO critical review of nicotine, which could be of great benefit to the public health community.

The WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence evaluates substances against four principal criteria: dependence potential, abuse risk, public health harm, and therapeutic usefulness. Assessing nicotine against these four criteria using the available scientific and epidemiological evidence will be of great benefit to global public health.

This initiative has sparked a global discussion about nicotine addiction, emerging nicotine products, youth use, public health, and the future of international nicotine regulations.

ASH and our civil society partners are providing Palau and other interested parties with scientific and legal support as this action progresses.

Check back for updates as this exciting work progresses; this is one of the most significant nicotine policy developments in recent years.

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