Vaping Digest June 5th

Wednesday’s News at a glance:

Are E-Cigs a Crisis? It’s Risky to Call Them ‘Unsafe’ ~ Expert presents tobacco harm reduction study to cardiologists ~ Harry’s blog 88: The Upton Sinclair factor ~ Confirm the legal framework for Harm Reduction ~ NATO Files Comments with FDA on Draft Guidance ~ Cessation Consternation ~ A Right Dick ~ Arora Bores The A-List ~ Mexico Public Health Agency Lashes Out Against Tobacco Harm Reduction ~ Anti-Cancer Campaigns Could Get Boost From Vape Industry ~Vaping company slam district councils’ vaping ban and say ‘myths need to be busted’ ~Altria stock boosted by news of acquisition of nicotine pouch business On!

Are E-Cigs a Crisis? It’s Risky to Call Them ‘Unsafe’

Faye Flam, Bloomberg

Whether they’re warning us about the risks of fat, salt, alcohol or electronic cigarettes, public health authorities tend to mislead – with the best of intentions! – by presenting a black-or-white oversimplification. They equate big risks, small risks and hypothetical risks under one umbrella as “unsafe.” In the case of electronic cigarettes, recently declared an “epidemic” and a “public health crisis,” the misleadingly dire message deprives people of information we need to balance potential risks against potential benefits.

Expert presents tobacco harm reduction study to cardiologists

Staff, Manilla Standard

Smoking remains a worldwide public health problem because it is very difficult for smokers to quit and smoking cessation medications have limited effectiveness, according to a harm reduction expert.

Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos said for smokers unable or unwilling to quit with approved smoking cessation medications, tobacco harm reduction could be a third-line option.

Harry Shapiro, Nicotine Science and Policy

Author, journalist and outspoken socialist Upton Sinclair, noted for his exposure of corruption in government and business, wrote that “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon him not understanding it”. He used this line in speeches and the book I, Candidate for Governor: And How I Got Licked about his campaign for governor of California as a way to explain why the editors and publishers of the major newspapers in California would not treat seriously his proposals for old age pensions and other progressive reforms.

---

Confirm the legal framework for Harm Reduction

NNA, Global network of CSO-NGOs

Harm reduction is one of the most practiced principles globally for balancing needs/wants against costs/risks. We all do it every day and without thinking, should I cut across traffic to catch the bus or wait for the next one? – Well, that depends on stress and how heavy the traffic and if the street is in Stockholm, Manila or Istanbul. Should I wear a helmet when on my bike? Should I make my kids wear helmets even though I choose not to?

– Governments do it too, for national security, prosperity, stability, and for the benefit of the citizens.
– Supranational organisations do it too – for the benefit of global goals and global needs that may or may not supersede national interests.

NATO Files Comments with FDA on Draft Guidance

Tobacco Business

NATO has submitted comments in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) draft guidance titled “Modifications to Compliance Policy for Certain Deemed Tobacco Products.” The guidance proposes two significant changes that would impact retailers that sell tobacco. First, the FDA proposes changes to the agency’s current compliance policy regarding electronic nicotine-delivery systems (ENDS), which include electronic cigarettes and nicotine vapor products. Specifically, the FDA may utilize its enforcement authority to not allow the sale of flavored ENDS products other than tobacco-flavored, mint-flavored or menthol-flavored electronic nicotine products in stores that minors are able to enter. This means that the FDA would focus its enforcement actions on convenience stores, service stations, grocery stores and drug stores with a potential outcome of various flavored e-cigarettes and flavored vapor products being removed from store shelves.

---

Three From Dave Cross, Planet Of The Vapes

Cessation Consternation

The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched into Philip Morris International (PMI) for wanting to take a harm reduction approach to World No Smoking Day. It will be seen as more hypocrisy from an organisation that while campaigning against smoking is encouraging countries to treat vaping the same as cigarette use. The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) and the New Nicotine Alliance (NNA) are united in their condemnation of WHO’s stance.

---

Report from HPA investigating Māori women’s experiences with vaping. Lots of interesting and important findings here. Key findings include need for more information on vaping, and that switching can be challenging, hence some women need more support. https://t.co/ENeSUcQEmj

— Richard Edwards (@ProfEdwardsNZ) June 4, 2019

---

---

Mexico Public Health Agency Lashes Out Against Tobacco Harm Reduction

Staff, Filter

Mexico’s consumer health protection agency has effectively denounced the US Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of IQOS, a heat-not-burn product—as well as warning against electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), like e-cigarettes, in general.

In a May 31 public communique, the government agency COFEPRIS adopted the staunchly anti-vaping position of the Mexican National Institutes of Health and Federal Hospitals and the National Commission Against Addictions

 

Anti-Cancer Campaigns Could Get Boost From Vape Industry

Staff, International Business Times

Cancer-fighting organizations are still hoping that newly elected members of the Parliament would push through with their promises to strengthen campaigns against tobacco smoking. This despite results showing a stronger outing for the Coalition over the Labor party.

During the campaign period, the Labor presented promising platforms to curb tobacco smoking in the country. The party pledged a budget of $63.4 million for an anti-smoking drive in a bid to lower Australia’s smoking rate from the current 12.2 percent to below 10 percent.

---

 

---

On this Day…2017

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

Vape advocacy:

What is worth supporting? – Jim McDonald

Five years ago, the vaping advocacy world was a lot simpler. CASAA was there; of course they’ve been around since 2009, representing consumers without much fanfare — and, sadly, very little money. As far as industry, the only real game in town was NJOY, whose government affairs pros Pamela Gorman and Brian Fojtik ranged across the country, tamping down threats and training lobbyists. They helped a lot of beginning vape advocates get started too.

I’ve Got a Question about CONtrol

Skip Murray

I’ve been wondering about some things…. Wasn’t the purpose of Tobacco CONtrol organizations to help reduce the number of people who smoke? Isn’t their job to educate others of the dangers of smoking?  Is it just me, or is it true that the reductions in the number of people who smoke have gotten low enough that the folks over at Tobacco CONtrol are getting a little nervous about keeping their funding and their jobs? Smoking Rates Drop To Record Low (article)

 

---

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

---