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Dangerous misconceptions about the safety of vaping are hampering the UK’s ambition to become smokefree by 2030, campaigners claim. Mark Oates runs WeVape, which promotes vaping as a safer alternative to conventional smoking.
He points to Public Health England research which said that vaping is approximately 95% less harmful than smoking Of the UK’s 3.6m vapers around 94% are ex or current smokers, a study by public health charity ASH found last year.
Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence, Mr Oates believes that widespread misinformation about the dangers of vaping is putting smokers off the devices. He points to media stories which misrepresent the science, and the potential limited harms from vaping rather than focusing on the fact that vaping is much less harmful than smoking. But if this misinformation continues, he believes it could damage the UK’s ambition to become smokefree by the end of the decade.
Source: Express, 22 September 2020
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Investors were in full defensive mode yesterday 22 September, as the UK government unveiled new lockdown restriction measures over a spike of COVID-19 cases.
As a result, tobacco, gold and utility stocks gained, with British American Tobacco rising 74p and Imperial Brands up 26p.
Source: Evening Standard, 22 September 2020
See also: Reuters - European stocks rebound slightly, supported by oil and tobacco
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The latest survey looking at young people’s attitudes to smoking, alcohol and drugs shows that levels of consumption are much lower than ten years ago across Northern Ireland.
Though there has been a slight rise in the number of young people taking up smoking and drinking, the year on year statistics from the Department of Health still show young people are being much more cautious about experimenting with these addictive products than at the turn of the century.
The latest figures revealed that 10% of children surveyed reported they had smoked at some stage in their life with 4%, indicating that they currently smoked. This represents a decrease since 2000 when 37% reported ever having smoked, and 15% were current smokers. Boys (11%) were more likely to report that they had smoked at some time than girls (8%). Young people living in the most deprived areas were more likely to report ever having smoked (13%) than those in the least disadvantaged areas (7%) though the rate of current smoking was similar (5% and 3% respectively).
Source: Belfast Telegraph, 22 September 2020
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Australians will be allowed to buy e-cigarettes at pharmacies with a prescription from their doctor under an interim decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) revealed yesterday, 22 September. The interim decision by the TGA, which could be finalised later this year, would make it legal to buy and use e-cigarettes, but only with a prescription.
E-cigarettes that contain nicotine are illegal to have or use in every state and territory except South Australia. However, they can be imported without a prescription.
The regulatory body’s proposal says: “The interim decision clarifies that nicotine for all human use is a prescription-only medicine and that possession without a script is not permitted. The (TGA) delegate considered restricting access in accordance with a prescription is necessary to address the recent increase in [the] uptake of [the] use of e-cigarettes containing nicotine by young adults.”
Source: Daily Mail, 22 September 2020
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A new study on zebrafish has found that fish embryos exposed to different flavours of e-cigarette vapour exhibited hyperactive behaviours post birth.
The researchers used a technique called PMR (photo motor response), which causes zebrafish embryos to move under a light. The fish embryos were transferred to petri dishes and bathed in e-liquid, then monitored for their PMR and basal activity post-birth.
The animal model showed exposure to e-cigarette vapour altered their behaviour and dulled sensory perception.
Source: Mirror, 23 September 2020
See also: Biology letters - Vape flavourants dull sensory perception and cause hyperactivity in developing zebrafish embryos
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PQ: Smoking: Public Health – DHSC
Asked by Dr Dan Poulter Conservative, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his plans are for public health tobacco smoking policies and strategies following the merger of Public Health England with NHS Test and Trace and the Joint Biosecurity Centre.
Answered by Jo, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care
The Government will continue its focus on health improvement and preventing ill-health, with support from the expert teams who currently sit in Public Health England (PHE), who will continue with their excellent work. We are not envisaging any changes to where responsibilities such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, and sexual health will sit until spring 2021. We have been consulting with staff and engaging with an external stakeholder advisory group on where PHE’s health improvement functions would be best placed in order to support the public health system in our aim to increase healthy life expectancy. Furthermore, we will be consulting with all staff.
Source: Hansard, 22 September 2020
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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