As we start another year..
Vaping is dangerous. We know, but many vapers and parents of vapers in NZ still do not. Why? Because no-one tells them, apart from limited info about nicotine.
The NZ government and Ministry of Health state repeatedly the 'good news story' of vaping increasing while tobacco use reduced, as if vaping is the great answer.
Both products are highly addictive, toxic, inhaled deep into delicate lung tissue, and make the tobacco/vape giants, the government and local retailers huge amounts of money.
Much safer ways of addressing nicotine addiction are well known by all clinicians and most MPs, such as gum, patches, quitting programmes, but these get negligible to no media coverage or government support in New Zealand. This must change.
The following restates the issues, and what we can do. It may be useful for forwarding.
Main points about e-cigarette use in NZ and which must be broadcast are
1. the criminal lack of description of risk by the government and by all those manufacturing and marketing the product,
2. the NZ stats on regular vape use by youth,
3. how NZ can reduce inhalation of toxic products and, in youth especially, help overcome addiction to nicotine
Compare US and NZ governments primary information on vape risks.
That of the US clearly and up front describes risks of cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals, volatile organic chemicals, tiny particles which can be inhaled deep into the lungs.
The content mentions it may be safer than (the extremely carcinogenic) tobacco but states that short and long term effects are still being researched. It clearly states e-cigarettes should not be used by young adults.
The NZ advice merely states it is less harmful than smoking, with a general comment that breathing any product into lungs unnecessarily is not ideal.
It supplies references to science papers, carefully selected studies primarily stating how e-cigarettes are beneficial for quitting tobacco.
In short, it does not clearly and simply state the risks of vaping.
Yet the NZ government licences and makes 15% GST from each sale of vape products, and allows highly visible colourful marketing throughout NZ with no mention of any risk except on packeting that it may cause addiction to nicotine, it allows online marketing, and any retailer obtaining a licence to sell them. See photo above of a vape store on Cuba Street in Wellington.
US info to public
Health Effects of Vaping | Smoking and Tobacco Use | CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/health-effects.html
NZ info to public
Risks of Vaping | Vaping Facts
https://vapingfacts.health.nz/the-facts-of-vaping/risks-of-vaping/
Note: Robust research in peer-reviewed journals is finding regular vaping is causing certain worrying changes in tissues and lung functions similar to those of smokers. These are unsurprising given the toxins in the aerosols at levels known to cause harm, such as propylene glycol required to create the aerosol and causing inflammation, the volatile organic chemicals, some formed by the heating process etc. That health insurance companies charge the same increase due to health risk for regular users of tobacco and e-cigarettes tells much. That one in eight NZ children regularly vape is a sorry statistic.
According to the NZ government's own statistics 28.8% Maori and 21.5% 'Pacific' regularly vape, and the Asthma and Respiratory foundation reported this month that 12% of 9-13 year old high school students in New Zealand regularly vape.
The government focusses on the switch from tobacco to vapes, but promotion of alternatives is virtually absent.
The charity group Asthma and Respiratory Foundation do provide some help.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/490583/ask-the-expert-how-to-quit-vaping
Compare online US and NZ government advice for quitting smoking:
US advice to quit
The word vaping is not in the main text.
7 Common Withdrawal Symptoms | Quit Smoking | Tips From Former Smokers | CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/quit-smoking/7-common-withdrawal-symptoms/index.html
And the US again (see what is under 'Can e-cigarettes help people quit')
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/withdrawal-fact-sheet
NZ advice to quit
'Vaping to Quit' is a heading, with its own large section.
How to quit | Smokefree.org.nz
https://vapingfacts.health.nz/the-facts-of-vaping/risks-of-vaping/
In short the NZ government is exploiting its own citizens. Why? Helping tobacco smokers quit does not justify NZ government extraordinary understatement of risk and support for the industry. What does? Short term large profits, links with and lobbying from the tobacco/vape industry including local retailers. The longer term costs to NZ of such high e-cigarette use is estimated to be in the billions of dollars, when socioeconomic and health impacts are included.
The new regs on disposables are a smokescreen as they have already been got around by the industry with use of removable batteries which exempts the product.
The UK government acts similarly to NZ and also has a youth vaping epidemic.
Trump has promised when he gets into office to remove vape regulations in the US.
We need those MPs who do not act to address the NZ vaping epidemic and bring e-cigarette regulation into line with strong WHO advice to be severely penalised. Ignorance of vaping risks is no longer an excuse.
Please send this to your MP.
Photo NZ vape store in the Cuba Street mall Wellington