Stories

Here are my new evidence briefs on the scientific and policy considerations for e-cigarettes or vapes and other smoke-free products that support tobacco harm reduction. I am starting with four evidence briefs to coincide with the COP-10 meeting of the WHO FCTC starting 5th February 2024. It is important that delegates, WHO and Secretariat officials, and observers understand the evidence and think carefully about policymaking. The current versions were published in January 2024.

A new analysis of trial data on pregnant smokers, led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, finds that the regular use of nicotine replacement products during pregnancy is not associated with adverse pregnancy events or poor pregnancy outcomes. The PREP 2 study used data collected from over 1100 pregnant smokers attending 23 hospitals in England and 1 stop-smoking service in Scotland to compare pregnancy outcomes in women who did or did not use nicotine in the form of e-cigarettes (EC) or nicotine patches regularly during their pregnancy. [...]

Supporters of the new government’s plan to repeal Aotearoa New Zealand’s smokefree legislation have claimed victory against “prohibition”. Introduced under Jacinda Ardern’s government, the smokefree law came into effect in January 2023 and included a commitment to introduce mandated “denicotinisation” (cutting the nicotine to levels that are no longer addictive) of smoked tobacco products. Studies estimated this measure would have greatly reduced smoking and helped prevent avoidable death and suffering. However, opponents, notably the tobacco industry and its allies, criticised the measure as “prohibition”.

Smoking remains a habit some Americans just can’t kick, with 5.8% of adults turning to the modern allure of e-cigarettes, according to a new Forbes Advisor study. Despite its popularity, e-cigarette usage remains controversial and unsafe, particularly among youth, young adults and pregnant women. [...] Forbes Advisor compared hundreds of data points from the CDC across all 50 states to determine which have the most and least vapers.

A study published in Addiction compares the impacts of smoking and vaping during pregnancy. “This paper presents high quality evidence, as a secondary analysis of data from the first UK trial of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation during pregnancy. “Tobacco smoking is a major contributor to poor pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth, miscarriage and low birthweight. Helping people to stop smoking completely, as quickly as possible, is the best way to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Consumers recently took the fight for safer products to the European Parliament with their contributions to an event titled “Harm Reduction: The Road to a Smoke Free Europe." Tom Gleeson of NNA joins us to analyse the arguments brought by consumers to MEPs at this event, and whether this means attitudes to THR could be changing in Europe.

Millions of Aussies could now pay up to $150 for a single vape as they are forced to get a GP prescription under tough new rules. New data from the Health Department predicts about 450,000 people will need prescriptions for a nicotine vapes each year requiring almost one million additional visits to the doctor. The changes come under Australia’s total import ban on non-therapeutic and disposable single-use vapes which came into force on January 1.

ACT Greens spokesperson for Young People, Laura Nuttall MLA, has launched a new survey to better understand young people's vaping habits across the ACT and consider better access to support services. Miss Nuttall says federal reforms to e-cigarettes attempting to curb access to disposable vapes have come into place without proper consultation with young people, who are more likely to use vapes than older Canberrans.

A public health advocacy group based in the Philippines has criticized the latest report of the World Health Organization on the use of electronic cigarettes, saying the global body undermines the significant progress made in public health over the past two decades as smokers transitioned to smoke-free products. Lorenzo Mata Jr., president of Quit for Good, said the WHO’s continued demonization of e-cigarettes disregards the wealth of scientific evidence demonstrating that smoke-free alternatives such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and snus have helped millions of smokers in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and Sweden successfully quit smoking.

NEW YORK — Sixty years ago, the U.S. surgeon general released a report that settled a longstanding public debate about the dangers of cigarettes and led to huge changes in smoking in America. Today, some public health experts say a similar report could help clear the air about vaping. Many U.S. adults believe nicotine vaping is as harmful as — or more dangerous than — cigarette smoking. That’s wrong. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and most scientists agree that, based on available evidence, electronic cigarettes are far less dangerous than traditional cigarettes.