Vapers Digest 27th January
Monday’s News at a glance:
Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Clause 16 ~ Pouches Authorised for Sale in US ~ He Invented the Nicotine Patch; Now, He Says the FDA Can Do More to Help Smokers ~ Letter to Ministers Saks and Holland ~ Fear ~ Africa: Nicotine Pouches – A Public Health Opportunity in Africa’s Tobacco Harm Reduction Journey ~ The most successful aid for quitting smoking? Vapes. ~ Smokers unlikely to quit with just willpower, say researchers ~ Evidence-based policymaking is dying in nanny-state America ~ FDA spoils Denver’s ‘your body, our choice’ nicotine ban ~ Lost Trust | Part 2: Origin of Public Health’s ‘Campaign of Deception’ on Vaping
Two from Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes
Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Clause 16
The final part of our epic foray into the amendment debates for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill delivers us at Clause 16, Prohibition of retail sales of tobacco products etc in England without a licence, and a little dose of common sense. Even the industry managed to go its opinions shoehorned into the proceedings.
Pouches Authorised for Sale in US
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorised the sale and marketing of 20 different ZYN pouch products “following an extensive scientific review”. This marks the first time any nicotine pouches have been authorised through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway and, predictably, has caused a meltdown in groups who have campaigned against the sale of vapes.
He Invented the Nicotine Patch; Now, He Says
the FDA Can Do More to Help Smokers
Jessica Towhey, Inside Sources, Prescott ENews
The Biden administration’s 11th-hour proposal to force tobacco manufacturers to slash nicotine levels — made just days before President Biden’s exit — was viewed as a political stunt by many public health officials. Meanwhile, tobacco reduction experts like Jed Rose, the head of the Rose Research Center, say the opportunity for real progress in the fight to get more Americans to stop smoking is on the horizon. More science is needed and more accurate information provided to the public.
Letter to Ministers Saks and Holland
Maria Papaioannoy, Rights 4 Vapers
Dear Ministers Saks and Holland, As we approach the conclusion of National Non-Smoking Week in Canada, it’s striking that, once again, no significant measures have been introduced by any level of government to meaningfully reduce smoking rates in this country. This is perplexing, given the numerous proven tools available to help Canadians quit smoking or reduce their cigarette consumption.
Fear
Skip Murray, Skip’s Corner, Let’s Talk!
All policies have intended positive outcomes. And I’d argue that all policies have unintended consequences. I’m curious: How many of you have read the proposed VLNC rule? I have not, and I hoped to see summaries giving different perspectives. So, my reactions to the rule are not based on my knowledge of its contents. Instead, they come from research I’ve done and things I’ve read, and they are based mainly on how I feel about VLNCs.
Africa: Nicotine Pouches – A Public Health Opportunity
in Africa’s Tobacco Harm Reduction Journey
Sebastien Satigui, All Africa
The recent decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize the marketing of 20 ZYN nicotine pouch products is a landmark moment in the global conversation on tobacco harm reduction. This milestone underscores the growing potential of smoke-free alternatives to transform public health outcomes, particularly in regions like Africa, where tobacco-related diseases continue to be a pressing concern.
The most successful aid for quitting smoking? Vapes
Ali Anderson, Clearing The Air
Smoking is the leading cause of early and preventable death, killing eight million people globally every year. The world is on a mission to stamp out the deadly habit – but most countries are far behind their targets of becoming ‘smoke free’. And yet, there is also a race to outlaw the most powerful tool there is for helping smokers quit: vapes.
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Smokers unlikely to quit with just willpower, say researchers
Denis Campbell, The Guardian
A million smokers a year in England try to quit by employing methods with little chance of success, according to new research. Almost half (49%) of all those trying to give up greatly reduced their chances of success by relying on willpower or over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products such as gum and patches.
Evidence-based policymaking is dying in nanny-state America
Martin Cullip, The Blaze
Public health policy must be guided by evidence, not ideology. It’s time for a course correction. The surgeon general’s recent report on health disparities related to tobacco use highlights how ideology can overshadow evidence in public health policy. Despite its stated goal of reducing disparities and combating disease, the report neglects one of the most effective tools for saving lives: harm reduction. Instead, it falsely equates the risks of all nicotine-containing products, a stance that undermines efforts to reduce smoking-related mortality.
FDA spoils Denver’s ‘your body, our choice’ nicotine ban
Jon Caldara, Colorado Politics
I quit smoking decades ago. I committed to smoke only after sex. The Food and Drug Administration has officially declared the Denver City Council is working to kill people. This counters the council’s stated fib they want to help people stop smoking. I know we’ve been over this before. But the timing of the FDA’s action is just too delicious, like a fine cigar, not to spend a moment celebrating it.
Lost Trust | Part 2: Origin of Public Health’s ‘Campaign of Deception’ on Vaping
Brent Stafford, Regulator Watch
Seeds of public health’s war on vaping were planted decades ago during the fight against secondhand smoke. What began as a strategy to combat smoking has evolved into a campaign of deception—one that distorts science, spreads misinformation, and undermines harm reduction.
Joining us again for Part 2 of our special series is Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor of public health at Tufts University and long-time advocate for tobacco harm reduction. Dr. Siegel traces the origins of this campaign of deception and reveals how it now dominates the FDA and CDC, leading to regulatory failures that demonize vaping, hand control of the industry to Big Tobacco, and fuel a thriving black market.
On this Day…2023
A look back at how things have moved on or otherwise…
Swedish study sheds new light on nicotine
Snusforumet
Nicotine from tobacco does not protect against Covid-19, a new Swedish study has found. However, the study also adds to the body of evidence suggesting that smokers are somehow protected from Covid-19 infection. It remains unclear why.
W.H.O.-Backed Policy Change
Supporting Harm Reduction Interventions Needed – Joseph Magero
Nearly 18 years since the W.H.O F.C.T.C. treaty came into force, it hasn’t proven to be a stellar success on its own terms, especially in low and middle-income countries. The current smoking prevalence in Africa calls for a major paradigm shift in policy.
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