Vapers Digest 5th February

Wednesday’s News at a glance:

ACS Welcomes Ban Guidance ~ Bangladesh Needs THR ~ MPs Vote For Vape-free Places ~ Claim that vaping is just as risky as smoking is not based on science ~ Balancing between harm reduction and prohibition of nicotine pouches ~ FDA’s Zyn Approval A Good Sign in Fight Against Smoking, Public Health Pros Say ~ How to Build on Sweden’s “Smoke-Free” Success? ~ Robert Kennedy’s Nicotine Pouch Can Make America Healthy Again ~ Science by Press Release: Researchers Claim that E-Cigarette Use Increases Heart Failure by 19% But Fail to Provide Data to Back It Up ~ What’s new in things to do? ~ May Future Memories Be Brighter Than Past Ones ~ Banning disposables won’t stop youth vaping, say experts from UCL and KCL ~ Luxembourg vows not to ban disposable vapes ~ France one step closer to banning nicotine pouches and disposable vapes ~ Global Harm Reduction Organizations Urge Recognition of Tobacco Harm Reduction. ~ RFK Jr. Is One Vote Away from Becoming HHS Secretary ~ ETHRA December & January news roundup ~ FDA Dysfunction Rewards Chinese Black Marketeers at the Expense of Kids ~ Trump, RFK Jr. and the case for revolutionizing tobacco regulation ~ Blowback over new Kentucky vaping law prompts lawmaker to file a repeal ~ FDA’s RISKY LOW-NICOTINE PLAN | Featuring Will Godfrey of Filter

THREE from Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes

ACS Welcomes Ban Guidance

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed new guidance from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) about the forthcoming ban on disposable/single-use vapes. The guidance sets out more detail on the definitions of single-use or disposable vapes, the penalties for selling them after the introduction of the ban on June 1st this year, and what to do if retailers have stock of single use vapes.

Bangladesh Needs THR

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) has called on the Bangladeshi government to reconsider its recent ban on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), commonly known as vapes, and embrace Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) strategies to save lives and improve public health.

MPs Vote For Vape-free Places

As MPs debated Clause 139 of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in a Public Bill Committee, Dr Caroline Johnson emitted even more half-truths and nonsense. Just two MPs spoke out against the idea of vape-free places in England and, come the vote, common sense and facts were considered unimportant as politicians pushed through the evidence-free, illiberal restriction.

Claim that vaping is just as risky as smoking is not based on science

Dr Edward Makgotlho, PhD, News 24

The argument that “vaping is just as risky as smoking” has been used to justify proposals for an extreme clampdown on vaping in South Africa. The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, for example, makes no distinction between the two categories, despite independent scientific opinion that vaping poses only a small fraction of the risks of smoking, according to the UK Office for Health Improvement and Disparities¹.

Balancing between harm reduction and prohibition of nicotine pouches

Chris Okullo, Nation

What you need to know:

It is clear to all stakeholders that shielding children from access to the products is imperative.

The challenge lies in weighing the risks and determining the best course of action.

FDA’s Zyn Approval A Good Sign in Fight Against Smoking, Public Health Pros Say

Chris Woodward, DC Journal

For years, health professionals have debated “harm reduction” vs. “abstinence-only” when it comes to smoking and tobacco use. Groups like the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids have pushed for a Prohibition-style “just say no” approach. Many public health professionals have dismissed this strategy as wishful thinking, noting that it didn’t work for alcohol and it’s unlikely to work for tobacco. Instead, they support a public policy that moves smokers from “combustible tobacco products” (cigarettes) to lower-risk alternatives like e-cigarettes, vaping and pouches.

How to Build on Sweden’s “Smoke-Free” Success?

Kiran Sidhu, Filter

“Sweden has successfully reduced smoking rates by combining innovation, legislation and consumer empowerment,” Jesper Skalberg Karlsson told the audience. Karlsson, a member of Sweden’s parliament, was speaking at an event held in London to celebrate Sweden’s dramatic lowering of its smoking rate, and to draw out lessons for the rest of the world.

Robert Kennedy’s Nicotine Pouch Can Make America Healthy Again

Dr. Brad Rodu, Tobacco Truth

The level of misunderstanding among American doctors about vastly safer cigarette substitutes is stunning. Last week I critiqued the president of the American Medical Association (here), and this week it’s Dr. Nicole Saphier, a breast cancer imaging specialist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In her January 30 New York Post column she called Robert Kennedy a “hypocrite” because he appeared to use a nicotine pouch during his Senate confirmation hearing.

Science by Press Release: Researchers Claim that E-Cigarette Use Increases Heart Failure by 19% But Fail to Provide Data to Back It Up

Dr. Michael Siegel, The Rest of the Story

In a press release issued last April by the American College of Cardiology, researchers of a new study claimed that people who use e-cigarettes are 19% more likely to develop heart disease than people who do not. According to the release: “People who use e-cigarettes are significantly more likely to develop heart failure compared with those who have never used them, according to one of the largest prospective studies to date investigating possible links between vaping and heart failure. The findings are being presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session. … The results showed that people who used e-cigarettes at any point were 19% more likely to develop heart failure compared with people who had never used e-cigarettes.”

TWO From Skip Murray, Skip’s Corner – Let’s Talk!

What’s new in things to do?

Some of these events might not support the use of reduced-risk products. Some have covered nicotine in the past but may not cover that topic every year.

May Future Memories Be Brighter Than Past Ones

Early this morning, I sat down to read a paper Mike Cummings had sent me. The words “connectedness and hope” immediately leaped off the page and grabbed my attention. I paused and became lost in thought. Memories of when I started smoking at the age of ten brought a smile to my face—sneaking that first cigarette alone behind my grandparent’s barn. One of Gramps smokes. He was my hero, and that cigarette made me feel more connected to him. It is, after all, why I was smoking. I wanted to be like him in any way possible.

Three From Ali Anderson, Clearing The Air

Banning disposables won’t stop youth vaping, say experts from UCL and KCL

The UK will soon join a growing list of countries to ban disposable vapes in a bid to curb youth vaping. But while the intentions might be good, the move will NOT stop young people vaping and is likely to have “unintended consequences”. That’s the view of a team of addiction and behavioural science experts in a new analysis published in the journal Addiction.

Luxembourg vows not to ban disposable vapes

Luxembourg will not be imposing a national ban on disposable vapes, the government has said. The Health Ministry acknowledged the need to reduce harm to the environment and prevent young people taking up vaping, but said it believes “a ban targeting disposable vapes [in Luxembourg] alone would be limited in its effectiveness.” Instead, it is calling for a “global approach” that includes regulations on all types of vapes as a “more coherent” way to address these issues.

France one step closer to banning nicotine pouches and disposable vapes

France is one step closer to banning nicotine pouches and disposable vapes after its proposals passed a major legal hurdle. The country’s health minister Geneviève Darrieussecq announced her intention to ban nicotine pouches, despite their proven effectiveness at helping smokers to quit, in October. In an interview with the Le Parisien newspaper at the time, Darrieussecq said pouches contain “high doses of nicotine” and are marketed in ways that attract young people.

Click to visit Danish Vapers Association

Global Harm Reduction Organizations Urge Recognition of Tobacco Harm Reduction.

N. E. Loucas. Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates, EIN Presswire

Advocacy organisations in Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific – In a united effort, representing millions of adult consumers who use nicotine products that do not involve combustion, have sent a letter to the Special Rapporteur to the United Nations Human Rights Council. The correspondence addresses recent comments made in a recent report regarding the validity of Tobacco Harm Reduction and urges the United Nations to recognize its importance in promoting public health.

RFK Jr. Is One Vote Away from Becoming HHS Secretary

Jim McDonald, Vaping 360

The Senate Finance committee today recommended Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The result was uncertain until the end, but Kennedy eventually prevailed in a 14-13 party-line vote. Kennedy will face a full Senate vote in the near future.

ETHRA December & January news roundup

European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA)

ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: SANT Committee elects Chair – PQ on vape dangers – ZYN granted marketing order – Belgian ban – TRIS notifications open for comments – UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill coverage – Fixing the PMTA process – The importance of flavours – Michael Siegel interview. Read on for more.

FDA Dysfunction Rewards Chinese Black Marketeers at the Expense of Kids

Michael Chamberlain, Real Clear Health

If Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), he has vowed to reform the agency. His work is cut out for him: HHS’s size and scope are matched only by its dysfunction. Mr. Kennedy has singled out the Food and Drug Administration for attention. Let’s hope he doesn’t overlook the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). CTP is responsible for licensing the sale of all nicotine products in the U.S., a job it doesn’t want to do and is quite successful at avoiding.

Trump, RFK Jr. and the case for revolutionizing tobacco regulation

Tim Andrews, The Washington Times

The newly inaugurated administration brings a crucial opportunity to combat chronic diseases, which claim hundreds of thousands of American lives annually, and one leading preventable cause of death – smoking – could be eradicated under the new administration. This could easily be achieved simply by following through with plans to reform the beleaguered U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make it easier for smokers to quit by making the switch to less harmful products.

Blowback over new Kentucky vaping law prompts lawmaker to file a repeal

Bode Brooks, Fox 56

A new law took effect at the start of the year that many vape store owners said could shut down their stores. Now, a month into its enforcement, a state lawmaker is hoping to see that law overturned. When House Bill 11 passed the General Assembly last year, Rep. Savannah Maddox (R-Dry Ridge) was sounding the alarm bells early.

FDA’s RISKY LOW-NICOTINE PLAN | Featuring Will Godfrey of Filter

Global Forum on Nicotine

Low nicotine cigarettes form the basis of the FDA’s latest plan to reduce tobacco consumption, but will it actually work? Will Godfrey of Filter Magazine joins us to discuss the details of this proposal, and why this not-so-new idea may cause a significant headache for US smoking cessation efforts.

On this Day…2022

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

E-cigarette risk perceptions –

An American crime scene – Clive Bates

Most Americans now incorrectly believe that e-cigarettes are just as harmful or more harmful than cigarettes. US health organisations have unethically cultivated this misunderstanding and compare unfavourably with UK equivalents. Their duplicitous behaviour resembles that of Big Tobacco 50 years ago.

Tobacco & Vaping 101: 50 State Analysis

Lindsey Stroud

As lawmakers across the country seek to reduce youth tobacco and vapor product use, many have introduced and passed legislation that regulates, taxes, and in some cases, prohibits the sales of such products.

Visit Nicotine Science & Policy for more News from around the World