Vapers Digest 19th December

Monday’s News at a glance:

Vaping’s “major role” in the UK’s record low smoking rate – A late contender for junk science of the year – Parliament – Who Would Win the Anti-Smoking World Cup? – Fear, misinformation, and exaggeration – New study reveals vaping is mistreated – Determined Pakistan lauds move to regulate HTPs – Nicotine Science and Policy Daily Digest

Vaping’s “major role” in the UK’s….

Record low smoking rate shows that harm reduction works

New Nicotine Alliance

As has been widely reported, new data published last week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that the smoking rate for over 18s in the UK in 2021 declined to a record low of 13.3%. The ONS described the drop in smoking numbers since the previous year’s rate of 14.0% as statistically significant and concluded that vaping had played “a major role” in the reduction.

This is great news at the end of a difficult year for many, but also a ringing endorsement of vaping as a successful nicotine alternative for millions of people wishing to quit smoking. As advocates for tobacco harm reduction, we are obviously encouraged by these data which align with the experience of our trustees and many of our associates and supporters who have managed to quit combustible tobacco by using vaping products instead.

Late contender for junk science of the year

Christopher Snowdon, Velvet Glove Iron Fist

I am calling for a total and complete shutdown of e-cigarette research from California until someone can figure out what the hell is going on.

Teenage drinking is a top public health concern, generating social costs of over $28 billion per year, including substantial external costs associated with alcohol-related traffic fatalities. At the same time, the high rate of electronic cigarette (“e-cigarette”) use among teenagers has become a public health concern, with state and local policymakers turning to e-cigarette taxes as a tool to curb consumption. This paper is the first to explore the spillover effects of e-cigarette taxes on teenage drinking and alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

The study, currently a working paper but no doubt destined for a top ‘public health’ journal, is titled ‘Can Anti-Vaping Policies Curb Drinking Externalities? Evidence from E-Cigarette Taxation and Traffic Fatalities’. I would be fascinated to hear more about the proposed causal mechanism here, but not enough to pay $5.

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Parliament

Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes

In the final questions and answers in Parliament before the Christmas break, The Marquess of Lothian inquired about fruit-flavoured e-liquids. Baroness Redfern was concerned about disposables, feelings shared by David Jones MP. Patrick Grady MP is worried about disposable waste. Andrew Gwynne MP wondered how the progress towards a Smokefree 2030 target will be monitored and Bob Blackman MP reminded ministers that the tobacco control plan still hasn’t been published.

The Marquess of Lothian Conservative asked the Government what steps they are taking to publicise the finding contained in the Nicotine Vaping in England: 2022 evidence update, published on 29 September, that “vaping is not risk-free, particularly for people who have never smoked”; and whether the review update found any evidence that fruit-flavoured vaping products may contribute to increased usage, and addiction, in young people.

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Who Would Win ….

The Anti-Smoking World Cup? – Federico N. Fernández

One billion people will watch the World Cup final in Qatar, the same number who could live longer if they switched cigarettes to safer nicotine alternatives

In a few days, the 2022 World Cup kicks off in Qatar. For many, the World Cup is the most important sporting competition. 32 teams will face it this year to win it. And every country in the world dreams of ever being the world champion.

What if I told you there is an even more important World Cup and the prize is not a golden trophy but saving millions of lives?

Fear, misinformation, and exaggeration:

Behind the SA-led national approach to youth vaping – Colin Mendelsohn

THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, Blair Boyer MP has proposed a national plan to reduce youth vaping in schools. This will include an advertising campaign to educate young people on the health impacts of vaping and address misinformation. So far so good.

Young people should not smoke or vape and should be provided with accurate information to make informed choices.

The SA Health website makes false claims, exaggerates the risks and provides misleading information about vaping.

It falsely claims that vaping has been linked to serious lung disease. No cases of serious lung disease have ever been linked to nicotine vaping. The outbreak of the lung condition EVALI in North America in 2019-20 was caused by vaping black-market cannabis oils adulterated with a cutting agent, Vitamin E Acetate.

Dr. Colin Mendelsohn

AFTER 45 YEARS OF MEDICAL PRACTICE, and 8 years as Australia’s first doctor to support vaping, I am finally hanging up my stethoscope. However, I will continue to advocate, teach, write and do research on vaping.

I have listed a number of doctors on my website here who can help with vaping and nicotine prescriptions.

My vaping patients have ranged from members of parliament, barristers and doctors to truck drivers, tradesmen and disability pensioners. I have seen patients from 16 to 85 years. Many had serious mental illness or disabling chronic health problems. Here are some reflections from my experience.

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New study reveals vaping is mistreated

Across the globe – Mariam Gogolishvili

A study on “Effective Anti-Smoking Policies” released at the beginning of November from the “We Are Innovation” Foundation found that out of the 59 countries analysed, ten ban vaping products, five ban heated tobacco products, eleven ban nicotine pouches and twenty-seven ban snus.

According to the research, the evidence from studies, articles, reports, and meta-analyses all agree that these products are substantially (95% to 98%) less toxic and harmful to health than tobacco consumed traditionally by combustion (whether in pipes, cigarettes or cigars). Meanwhile, the policymakers refuse to listen to science and continue introducing harsh regulations on these life-saving products.

Determined Pakistan lauds move …

To regulate HTPs – Hamza Habib

Determined Pakistan has appreciated the government’s efforts for regularising heated tobacco products (HTPs) as an alternative to cigarettes in the interest of public health, a statement said.

The Federal Cabinet on the request of the Ministry of Health has approved the SRO on heated tobacco products that are scientifically proven to be 95 per cent less harmful than cigarettes.

Determined Pakistan Co-founder Adeeb Aijaz said that independent international scientific researchers have found that Heated Tobacco Products are much less harmful than cigarettes.

Why Disposable Vapes are Taking Over

The European Vaping Industry?

The world is now shifting to vaping as a better and healthier alternative to smoking. And European countries are not an exception to it. However, have you ever thought about what led to this dynamic shift in Europe?

Well, the major contribution to this rapid change is the emerging vape brands. A brand like Esco Bar, Hyde, and Elf Bar are leading this industry in Europe. Their growing product ranges and sales evidence the high demand for disposable vapes in the continent.

So, here, we will uphold the top 5 reasons that allow disposable vapes to take over the European market. Before that, let’s understand how the European vaping sector evolved.

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On this Day…2021

A look back at how things have moved on or otherwise…

7 Big Themes For Vaping In 2022

James Dunworth, Ashtray Blog

For the past 9 years we have run a predictions post, with experts from different fields and different regions sharing their perspective on the future of vaping. This year’s, which will be published next week, is better than ever, with some truly superb write-ups and analysis from our predictors.

It’s a big article, though, and not everyone will have time to read the whole thing. So for this post I’ve pulled out 7 key themes from the predictions, which provide an overview of the big ideas for vaping in 2022.

Incorporating e-cigarettes into …

Your Stop Smoking Service: – NCSCT (PDF)

The purpose of this document is to help English stop smoking services to make e-cigarettes (vapes) available to their clients. It makes the case for providing e-cigarettes as an option for your clients alongside medicinally licenced stop smoking products, addresses common misconceptions and concerns, and offers a checklist for the types of things to consider when deciding how your service will provide clients with access to vaping products.

Expert support from a local stop smoking service (LSSS) gives smokers the best chance of quitting for good. Depending on the area, services can be based in a range of settings including integrated lifestyle services, community pharmacies and GP surgeries. Stop smoking services are free and offer a choice of one-to-one or group behavioural support from a trained stop smoking advisor together with effective quitting aids.

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