Vapers Digest 24th April
Wednesday’s News at a glance:
World Vapers’ Alliance
The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) calls for immediate action from EU health ministers to adopt science-based tobacco harm reduction strategies amidst delays in tobacco legislation. The call comes as health ministers gather in Brussels for a two-day EPSCO meeting where the European Beating Cancer plan is one of the key topics of discussion.
To End Smoking Harms in Rwanda, Educate Health Care Providers
Tobacco has long played a significant role in the culture of Rwanda—gifted and shared, and traditionally used at weddings, though this has now reportedly declined.
Rwanda’s smoking rate has fallen, from an estimated 15 percent of the adult population in 2000 to 10 percent in 2015. Changing societal attitudes and growing awareness of the risks of smoking are behind this.
Does vaping harm the lungs of adults who have never smoked?
Dr. Colin Mendelsohn, Tobacco Treatment
RESEARCH HAS NOT IDENTIFIED any serious harms to the lungs from vaping nicotine by non-smoking adults in the short-medium term. An expert review concluded that vaping nicotine is unlikely to raise any significant concerns for lung health. (Polosa)
There is good evidence that lung health improves in smokers who switch to vaping. Breathing, cough and reduced phlegm improve (Hajek) and there are short- to medium-term improvements in asthma (Polosa), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema) (Polosa), muco-ciliary (phlegm) clearance (Polosa), respiratory infections (Miler; Lucchiari) and lung function (Cibella). These changes are likely to persist over the longer term. Furthermore, the lung cancer risk from vaping is estimated to be 50,000 times less than from smoking. (Scungio)
Thinking ’bout THR
Skip Murray, Skip’s Corner
Greetings! Please note that the email version of this newsletter sometimes gets shortened, and you need to click the link at the bottom to view the whole thing. I have been asked if I could try to send this out more than once a week. That way, the news is more current, and there are fewer links to explore at a time.
With Cigarette Sales Declining, More Evidence Supports
the Role of Flavored Vapes in Helping Adults Quit
Lindsey Stroud, Town Hall
Three from Dave Cross, Planet Of The Vapes
UKVIA Welcomes RCP Report
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) trade organisation has welcomed the Royal College of Physicians report on the role of vapes in smoking cessation. The trade body warns the Government not to consider banning flavours as would be going against the advice of one of the most eminent and respected medical bodies in the UK.
Government Crackdown Failing
New Freedom Of Information (FOI) data from 152 local councils, submitted by Vape Club, shows that in 2023 the number of illegal vapes seized increased 19 times from 2020. Despite the increased focus on illegal activity, this hasn’t led to effective enforcement, the vape company says. While 2871 illegal vape sellers were caught in 2023, just 5% resulted in fines or penalties.
Are Disposables a Short-Term Problem?
Disposable vapes are increasingly the target of legal bans, amid widespread concern over youth usage and environmental impact. But a new article published by the independent industry information provider ECigIntelligence suggests that disposables as we know them might soon have disappeared anyway.
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