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Journalist Charlotte Lytton wrote to the Telegraph exploring vapes’ appeal to UK teens. She asks: “While the NHS recommends vaping as a suitable alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes, what of those who baulk at the idea of a ciggie, but have been lured in by the endless shops featuring brightly coloured nicotine pens for a couple of pounds a pop?”
Some young people agreed that the brightly coloured packaging and slick devices have increased demand, with vapes increasingly seen as a status symbol of being ‘cool’. Josh, an A-level student from Nottingham who uses e-cigarettes, described vaping as “now a large part of youth culture and identity in the UK”.
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH said that: “The glamorous promotion of vaping on social media is completely inappropriate and social media platforms should take responsibility. […] online platforms like TikTok don’t need to wait, they must act now.” Arnott emphasises “smoking is still the leading cause of premature death [worldwide] That’s what’s killing people; not vaping.”
Gillian Golden, CEO of the Independent Vape Trade Association (IBVTA), comments: “It is illegal to sell vape products to anyone under 18, so young people should not be able to access them [...] E-cigarettes are meant for adult smokers who are looking to quit, or looking for a far safer alternative to cigarettes. The IBVTA would like to see more funding for enforcement and stiffer penalties for those who break the law.”
Source: Telegraph, 14 July 2022
Editorial Note: As of Thursday midday, the article incorrectly states that a YouGov survey for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) found that a quarter of the products purchased did not meet the standards required to be sold on UK shelves. This figure came from Trading Standards Services’ report on NIPS3 Review of business compliance, which can be accessed here. A correction to the article has been requested. The full article also includes claims suggesting e-cigarette use leads to gum disease. This is contrary to available evidence, as explained in a ‘Letter to the Editor’ by Dr Richard Holliday and Professor Elaine McColl, published in The Times (see below for link).
See also:
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The NI Health Minister Robin Swann has said he has not ruled out the possibility of raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco each year by one year as a way to address the devastation caused by smoking in the country. Independent Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Claire Sugden asked Mr Swann in a written Assembly question what consideration has been given to raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco each year by one year, as recommended in the recent independent review to make England smokefree by 2030.
The UUP minister said: “The aim of the recommendation is to create a tobacco free generation where young people below a certain age are legally prevented from buying tobacco products throughout their entire lifetime [...] Whilst the Khan recommendations do not relate directly to Northern Ireland, the recommendations, along with the UK Government response, will be considered within a Northern Ireland context, particularly during the ongoing review of our tobacco control strategy and in the development of our subsequent strategic approach. I am keen to explore all avenues that reduce the unacceptable harm and health disparities caused by smoking.”
Around 340,000 people over the age of 16 in Northern Ireland smoke, with eight out of 10 smokers reporting they started smoking before they turned 16.
Commenting on the minister’s response on the subject, Barbara Roulston from Cancer Research UK, said: “We have been calling for the publication of a new and wide-ranging tobacco control strategy for Northern Ireland by 2023, which includes a commitment to a smoke free target for Northern Ireland by 2035 and measures and services to prevent people from starting to smoke and help people who do to stop. Within that strategy we would welcome recommendations and a consultation on raising the age of sale for tobacco.”
Source: Belfast Telegraph, 14 July 2022
See also: The Khan review: making smoking obsolete
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A meta-analysis of 29 studies has found people who have viewed tobacco content on social media are more than twice as likely than non-viewers to report using tobacco and, among those who have never used tobacco, more likely to be susceptible to use in the future. The findings, published this week in JAMA Paediatrics, come amid growing concerns about the potential harms of social media use, particularly among young people.
Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC analysed data from 139,624 adolescents and young adults from across the United States, India, Australia, and Indonesia, looking at a range of content types and platforms. Lead author Scott Donaldson spoke of the findings: “What we found is that these associations are robust and have public health implications at the population level.”
Senior author Dr Jon-Patrick Allem emphasised that “people who had never before used tobacco were more susceptible [...] This suggests that exposure to tobacco-related content can pique interest and potentially lead nonusers to transition to tobacco use.”
He, along with colleagues, warned: “The proliferation of social media has offered tobacco companies new ways to promote their products, especially to teens and young adults [...] Our hope is that policymakers and other stakeholders can use our study as a basis for decision making and action.”
Source: ScienMag, 11 July 2022
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A Daffodil Centre modelling study - a joint venture by the Cancer Council and the University of Sydney - found that almost one in five cancer deaths in the country will be directly attributable to smoking from 2020 to 2044, as advocates lament the country's lack of tobacco control campaigns to address this.
The research, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, reveals the overall number of smoking-related cancer deaths will increase by 29% for men and 36% for women, ringing alarm bells for the 11% of Australian adults who smoke every day.
The researchers collated data on the number of cancer deaths in Australia from 1955 to 2019 from the World Health Organisation's Mortality Database. They also used data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the National Drug Strategy Household Survey for 2007-2019.
Daffodil Centre director and study co-author Professor Karen Canfell says the deaths could be prevented if Australia prioritises smoking as a public health issue. The chair of the Cancer Council's national public health committee, Anita Dessaix praised tobacco control campaigns as being one of the most effective public health measures in Australia, stating: "We face 250,000 smoking-caused cancer deaths due to complacency in policy reform and a lack of anti-smoking campaigns in recent years [...] We need urgent action from the federal government if we want to have any chance at avoiding just some of these preventable cancer deaths."
Source: Daily Mail Australia, 13 July 2022
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Individuals with no dementia risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes or hearing loss, have similar brain health as people who are 10 to 20 years younger than them, according to a new Baycrest study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Disease Monitoring. The study found that a single dementia risk factor could reduce cognition by the equivalent of up to three years of ageing. It is one of the first to look at lifestyle risk factors for dementia across the entire lifespan and has led researchers to suggest lifestyle factors may be more important than age in determining someone's level of cognitive functioning.
The study included data from 22,117 people aged 18 to 89 who completed the Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment, developed by Baycrest. Researchers looked at participants' performance on memory and attention tests, and how this was impacted by eight modifiable risk factors for dementia: low education (less than a high school diploma), hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, alcohol or substance abuse, hypertension, smoking (currently or in the past four years), diabetes and depression.
Lead author Dr. Annalise LaPlume said of the findings: “This is great news, since there's a lot you can do to modify these factors, such as managing diabetes, addressing hearing loss, and getting the support you need to quit smoking." Importantly, senior author Dr. Nicole Anderson noted that risk factors had a negative impact on cognitive performance across all ages, suggesting risk factors can and should be addressed as early as possible.
Source: MedicalXpress, 13 July 2022
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PQ1:
Asked by Mary Kelly Foy, Labour, City of Durham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure policy convergence between risk factors for non-communicable diseases, including alcohol, smoking and obesity.
Answered by Maggie Throup, Under-Secretary of State for Vaccines & Public Health
Over 40% of ill-health and early death is due to preventable risk factors, with more than half of this total related to tobacco, alcohol and diet. Addressing these major risk factors, including where these issues converge, forms part of the ambition to increase healthy life expectancy by five years by 2035 and to reduce the difference between local areas by 2030. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities was established in 2021 to provide expertise in public health, evidence and policy to ensure informed and integrated national policy making and local delivery.
Source: Hansard, 11 July 2022
PQ2:
Asked by Mary Kelly Foy, Labour, City of Durham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made about the combined impact of different risk factors for non-communicable diseases, including alcohol, smoking and obesity together, on health disparities.
Answered by Maggie Throup, Under-Secretary of State for Vaccines & Public Health
Over 40% of ill-health and early death is due to preventable risk factors, with more than half of this total due to tobacco, alcohol and diet-related risk factors. These are more prevalent in the most deprived areas and communities and are a significant contributor to disparities in health outcomes.
Source: Hansard, 11 July 2022
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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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