Vaping Digest October 16th
Wednesday’s News at a glance:
Using social media to uncover a black market ‘brand’ linked to vaping illness
Elizabeth Hewitt, Columbia Journalism Review
On September 27, federal health officials announced that they had tracked a number of bootleg THC cartridges to the vaping-related lung illnesses that have afflicted more than 1,000 people across the country. The most common cartridge cited by officials is a brand known as Dank Vapes.
Emma Betuel, a mind and body reporter for Inverse, began investigating the murky origins of Dank Vapes months earlier, as questions about the origins of the illnesses swirled. She had seen a local news report about vaping-related illnesses, in which an interview subject shows a brightly colored package bearing the Dank Vapes name.
No evidence of danger to public from passive vaping – expert
Belfast Telegraph
Vapers should not stand with smokers because it could entice them into smoking, but there is no danger to the public from passive vaping, an expert has claimed. Whether or not to vape in close proximity to others is a “courtesy issue” but there is no evidence it poses health risks to those nearby, according to Professor John Britton.
Outbreak of vaping-related lung injuries linked to THC-based products
The Washington Times
Health officials increasingly are pointing to THC-based products as key elements in the growing outbreak of lung injuries linked to vaping, putting industry advocates on the defensive as companies and states heighten their efforts to ban flavored e-cigarettes.
As panic over US vape deaths mounts, Malaysia’s new laws may prove far more toxic
Jo Furnival, Malay Mail
Malaysia is pushing for strict laws on the sale and use of vapes, shisha and e-cigarettes but evidence suggests stricter vaping laws are likely to be counterproductive.
In the wake of several vaping related deaths in the United States, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said: “There will be more enforcement efforts to curb its accessibility.” So-called “vaping illness” has, at the last count, claimed the lives of 18 people in the US (with hundreds of others falling ill).
The CDC is Still Misleading the Public about the Cause of the Respiratory Disease Outbreak: Why?
Michael Siegel, The Rest of the Story
Last Thursday, CDC finally revised its warning to the public about the vaping-associated respiratory disease outbreak to state clearly that vaping THC-containing products is playing a major role in the outbreak. It stated that: “The latest national and state findings suggest products containing THC, particularly those obtained off the street or from other informal sources (e.g. friends, family members, illicit dealers), are linked to most of the cases and play a major role in the outbreak. Therefore, CDC recommends that you should not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC.“
Congress Believes Social Media Bots Enticed Minors To Vape
Michael McGrady, Vaping Post
If you follow American politics, the term “social media bots” is very popular in the vertical that questions the role of social networks and democracy. These bots are legitimate marketing tools that companies use to flood an existing social channel with automated posts that drive the conversation about a topic on a particular platform. However, they can most certainly be misused.
This is the foundation that funded the junk study accusing @Vaping360 @Vapingit @mihotep
and @benoit_durand of being bot accounts. @PublicGoodProj actually did the study. Both orgs are making self-righteous statements about it. https://t.co/CakoIPLZVA— Jim McDonald (@whycherrywhy) October 16, 2019
Over a week ago the Wall Street Journal asked me to comment on the report that occasioned this story. Sadly none of my comments made the cut. But that's ok, I'm happy to repeat what I told WSJ (and more!) on twitter in this thread you're gonna want to readhttps://t.co/B8E9WILc0o
— Amelia Howard (@Amelia_RH) October 15, 2019
Why the attention on Juul? Think it has nothing to do with money? Health departments don't. pic.twitter.com/EXkYPg7sX4
— michelleminton (@michelleminton) October 14, 2019
Vape Rally At The White House! You Don’t Want To Miss This
Matt Culley, Suck My Mod
In this video I talk about the upcoming rally in D.C. on November 9th. This event will be a huge part of vaping history, and you want to be a part of it.
Killing Us with Kindness: Democrats’ War on Vaping Costs Lives
Michelle Minton, Competitive Enterprise Institute
Liberals are supposed to the ones whose hearts “bleed” with concern for others’ welfare. That’s why modern liberals generally reject an abstinence-only approach to regulation. They recognize that policies aimed at reducing harm, like sex education, needle exchange programs, and addiction services, are beneficial to both individuals and society while prohibition merely creates injustice and suffering.
Appropriate for the protection of public health
Dr. Moira Gilchrist, PMI Science
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosted a webcast entitled “Why FDA authorized the marketing of the IQOS heated tobacco product as ‘appropriate for the protection of the public health’” on Thursday, October 10. Dr. Moira Gilchrist, Vice President Strategic and Scientific Communications, gives us an overview of the key points mentioned during this webinar, as well as her take on some important factors.
Smoking in Society report
Forest
Forest EU publishes a report on the state of smoking and vaping bans in the European Union.
THREE from Dave Cross, Planet Of The Vapes
SOVAPE Finds The French Are Misinformed
Research commissioned by SOVAPE reveals that 45% of French adults think that vaping is as dangerous as smoking and 80% believe that nicotine is carcinogenic. The survey was undertaken by BVA for ETHRA partner SOVAPE and was released at the “Sommet de la Vape” on Monday.
UKVIA Combats Vaping Fiction
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has launched an unprecedented media campaign to combat harmful scare-stories. The trade body has had enough of the misinformation scaring smokers away from making the switch and wants vapers to help with a campaign of truth and honesty.
Parliament
Baroness Thornton was concerned about Brexit-related duty-free shopping and if the government was promoting smoking. Ranil Jayawardena wondered what the government was doing about pupils vaping on school premises. Damian Hinds needed help understanding the evidence the government used for the guidance issued on reduced harm products.
Vaping response should be science-based, not prohibition
Susan Collins, The Seattle Times
It’s frightening when people are dying and doctors don’t know why. Over the past few months, 26 deaths and some 1,300 injuries have been attributed to vaping. We shake our heads in disbelief at X-ray images of lung damage and findings of vape-borne chemicals that turn to cyanide when heated.
Doctors and public health officials are appropriately sounding alarms. Lawmakers are responding predictably, and unfortunately, with calls for outright bans on vaping and vape products.
Visit Nicotine Science & Policy for more News from around the World
