Having the evidence on your side is one thing, turning it into
practical action is another. The first key message outright
recommends e-cigarettes to smokers who have found other
methods of nicotine replacement ineffective. The subsequent
findings not only present e-cigarettes as a relatively safe and
effective tool but puts other fears to rest – such as claims they are
undercutting the decline in smoking rates or acting as a gateway
to cigarettes. Here is the full list, with some commentary.
“”
We welcome this updated evidence
review from Public Health England which
re-enforces the harm reduction potential
and public health gains which can only
be realised if smokers are given accurate
information about vaping.
CHAIRMAN FRASER CROPPER, IBVTA
1. Smokers who have tried other methods of quitting without
success could be encouraged to try e-cigarettes (EC) to stop
smoking and stop smoking services should support smokers
using EC to quit by offering them behavioural support.
2. Encouraging smokers who cannot or do not want to stop
smoking to switch to EC could help reduce smoking related
disease, death and health inequalities.
3. There is no evidence that EC are undermining the long-term
decline in cigarette smoking among adults and youth and may in
fact be contributing to it. Despite some experimentation with EC
among never smokers, EC are attracting very few people who
have never smoked into regular EC use.
4. Recent studies support the Cochrane Review findings that
EC can help people to quit smoking and reduce their cigarette
consumption. There is also evidence that EC can encourage
quitting or cigarette consumption reduction even among those
not intending to quit or rejecting other support. More research is
needed in this area.
5. When used as intended, EC pose no risk of nicotine poisoning
to users, but e-liquids should be in childproof packaging. The
accuracy of nicotine content labelling currently raises no major
concerns.
Ann McNeill has weighed in on the issue of nicotine, saying,
“People smoke for the nicotine, but contrary to what the vast
majority believe, nicotine causes little if any of the harm.
The toxic smoke is the culprit and is the overwhelming cause of all
the tobacco-related disease and death. There are now a greater
variety of alternative ways of getting nicotine than ever before,
including nicotine gum, nasal spray, lozenges and e-cigarettes.”
The study’s closing statements also reveal that “experienced
vapers, using their own devices, however obtain much better
nicotine substitution.”
6. The sixth pointer is a clear indictment of alarmist press
coverage concerning e-cigarettes, stating there has been an
“overall shift towards the inaccurate perception of EC being as
harmful as cigarettes over the last year in contrast to the current
expert estimate that using EC is around 95% safer than smoking.”
7. Whilst protecting non-smoking children and ensuring the
products on the market are as safe and effective as possible are
clearly important goals, new regulations currently planned should
also maximise the public health opportunities of EC.
8. Continued vigilance and research in this area are needed.
The eighth and final summarised point reminds us that this is an
evolving scientific venture and people on every side of the vaping
issue must always be vigilant of new research and advances in
evidence.
A final number to see us into the next phase of public health
initiatives is the number 20,000. The gov.uk press release tells us
that in this country, “e-cigarettes could be contributing to at least
20,000 successful new quits per year and possibly many more.”
The 113-page study can be read in full at g o v. u k . The document thoroughly covers all methodologies used and their specific outcomes.
It will no doubt carry significant weight in the vaping industry for some time.
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