Vaping Digest February 20th
Wednesday’s News at a glance:
E-Cigarette Flavor Bans Will Drive More People Back to Smoking ~ When an Apple is an Orange and its Blue In Colour ~ Legalise Vaping Australia welcomes AACS research ~ New research reveals public health blind spot on vaping ~ Electronic Cigarettes PSP: the progress so far ~ Twitter Caught Up In This Year’s Annual Through With Chew Misinformation Orgy ~ E-cigarettes: What Consumers Need To Know ~ European Commissioner Slammed ~ Questions in Parliament ~ Thai Junk Science Videos ~ EU Commission accused of ignoring science on e-cigarettes ~ E-cigarettes – a tool to reduce inequalities in smoking? ~ Hong Kong’s bizarre e-cigarettes ban will boost traditional tobacco products
E-Cigarette Flavor Bans Will Drive More People Back to Smoking
Michael Siegel, Inside Sources
By now, we are all aware that the use of flavored e-cigarettes and vaping products is running rampant in this country. A recent survey of one particular age group of electronic cigarette users (vapers) revealed that 85 percent prefer flavored e-cigarettes, including 74 percent who use fruit flavors and 66 percent who use dessert or pastry flavors. Nearly half (49 percent) of these vapers regularly used candy, chocolate or other sweet-flavored e-liquids.
When an Apple is an Orange and its Blue In Colour
Jan Walsh, Aotearoa Vape Community Advocacy (AVCA)
On February 13 Nancy and I attended a public health summer school session put on by Otago University “Regulating the retail supply of tobacco: Moving research toward practice“. We were particulary interested in a presentation given by Janet Hoek “ENDS availability – analysing some options“. The focus of Professor Hoek’s presentation appeared to be that vaping was a really difficult, technical, activity and most people required expert help to have any chance of success in what she believed should be their journey from smoking to exclusive vaping to total absinence from vaping.
Legalise Vaping Australia welcomes AACS research
Admin, Legalise Vaping
Legalise Vaping Australia (LVA) welcomed new research, commissioned by the Australian Association of Convenience Stores and released today, which shows the majority of Australians support legalisation of smoke-free alternatives like e-cigarettes and vaporisers.
“It is absurd that a 95 per cent less harmful alternative to smoking is illegal in Australia, while overseas in countries like the UK, US, across the EU and New Zealand, smokers are able to access legal, properly regulated smoke-free products to help them quit for good,” said LVA Campaign Director Mr Marlow said.
New research reveals public health blind spot on vaping
Admin, Legalise Vaping
New research to be published in the scientific journal Addictive Behaviors, sheds new light on the reality of e-cigarette use in Australia as a smoking cessation device.
The study, led by Dr Gary Chan from the Centre of Youth Substance Abuse Research at the University of Queensland, found that those likely to vape were past or current daily smokers, and disproves the myth that young people who have not previously smoked are disproportionately using e-cigarettes.
Loose talk of epidemics of addiction adds to a sense of moral panic that is not justified by the underlying numbers – and risks regulatory over-reaction that would be harmful to the primary at-risk population, namely smokers (both adult and adolescent).https://t.co/jiviKejEvJ
— Clive Bates (@Clive_Bates) February 19, 2019
Electronic Cigarettes PSP: the progress so far
Louise Ross, James Lind Alliance
The survey on electronic cigarettes went live in early January, and by February 1st we had received 573 replies, generating a stunning 1,300+ questions. This is apparently an off-the-scale response, demonstrating how important this issue is and how vital is the support that the James Lind Alliance can bring in determining what the highest priorities are.
Encouragingly, there are many replies from consumers as well as clinicians and the diversity among those submitting questions shows that we have got the communications well-pitched.
Twitter Caught Up In This Year’s Annual Through With Chew Misinformation Orgy
Brad Rodu, Tobacco Truth
Smokeless tobacco users are in for harassment this week, the 30th iteration of the annual Through With Chew orgy of smokeless tobacco misinformation. Dippers and chewers will be demonized and the real science about the relative safety of their favored products will be twisted into fear-inspiring untruths.
Consider this Tweet, for example, from the U.S. Department of Defense @ucanquit2 account on February 11: “Smokeless tobacco users are 50x more likely to get cheek, gum & mouth cancer than nonusers.”
E-cigarettes: What Consumers Need To Know
Thr4Life
We at THR4Life took a hard look for statements taken from various sources within the U.S. Government (and other organizations around the world) to see what we could find. Below, we’ve compiled what may be difficult (and time-consuming) for a consumer to find on their own. We consider these statements extremely important for consumers (and family members) to make educated decisions.
Three from Planet Of The Vapes
Dave Cross
European Commissioner Slammed
EURACTIV refers to itself as a “Think and do” tank, arranging events and a newsletter to promote dialogue between media professionals, health experts (in the case of vaping) and EU stakeholders. During a recent event Vytenis Andriukaitis, the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, called electronic cigarettes a “poison”. Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos has taken issue with this outburst.
Questions in Parliament
Steve Brine MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care has responded to vape and general tobacco harm-related questions from Andrew Rosindell, Sharon Hodgson, Bob Blackman, and Adam Afriyie. Some of the questions related to the current uncertainty surrounding Brexit.
Thai Junk Science Videos
Scientists in Thailand have videoed themselves conducting an investigation looking at the particulate matter of vape. The videos were shared by The Thai Vapers advocacy group, prompting much mirth and mocking. The gauntlet has been laid down: can Stanton Glantz produce a worse investigation to win the Junk Science in Vaping 2019 award?
EU Commission accused of ignoring science on e-cigarettes
Sarantis Michalopoulos, Euractiv
The European Commission’s recent statement comparing electronic cigarettes to “poison” has prompted a strong reaction from stakeholders, who accused the EU executive of disregarding scientific evidence.
Speaking at an event organised by EURACTIV on 30 January, Arūnas Vinčiūnas, the head of cabinet of EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, said e-cigarettes might be less harmful, according to some reports, but they’re still “poison”.
“There is reluctance and a specific attitude towards the tobacco industries,” Vinčiūnas added.
E-cigarettes – a tool to reduce inequalities in smoking?
Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care
Since their arrival in the UK in 2010/11, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vapes) have rapidly become the most popular aid to help people quit smoking. With evidence continuing to grow showing that vaping 1) poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking and 2) improves smoking quit success, Public Health England have restated that smokers who are struggling to quit should ‘try switching to an e-cigarette’ along with seeking help by trained specialists. But what does this mean for existing inequalities in smoking?
Hong Kong’s bizarre e-cigarettes ban will boost traditional tobacco products
Rather than reduce smoking
, South China Morning Post
The government’s war on e-cigarettes is simply bizarre – and that’s putting it nicely. Of all the unhealthy lifestyle choices available to – or forced upon – Hongkongers, why are e-cigarettes the only item being targeted? The biggest beneficiaries of the ban, traditional tobacco companies that have not invested in researching and developing new alternatives, can now laugh all the way to the bank.
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