NEWS
THE
GROWING
BODY OF EVIDENCE
The BMA Board of Science have published
a new paper on e-cigarettes
T
he British Medical Association has become the latest
eminent public health body to weigh in on the ongoing
issue of e-cigarette health effects and regulation by
publishing a new study. The paper, entitled “Balancing
Risks and Opportunities” lays out the BMA’s position on
appropriate e-cigarette regulations and the associated
risks in pursuing harm reduction strategies. It is available
on the BMA’s website.
In addition to laying out in accessible terms the features,
function and benefits of e-cigarettes and liquids, the BMA
also published on their site, a section called “answers to
common questions that doctors and their patients may
have about these devices.”
In this section, the BMA tackle the issue of e-cig
recommendation by doctors, a debate still going to this day.
Fortunately, the BMA appear to stick to the main mission
and purpose of e-cigarettes: as a smoking cessation tool.
“The clearest benefit to health will likely be achieved for
patients who are using e-cigarettes to stop smoking tobacco
altogether. If individuals continue to smoke tobacco, there
are unlikely to be major benefits from using e-cigarettes.”
Despite a scant number of definitive studies – which are
always welcomed by the vaping industry – the site’s
answer section is cautiously optimistic in its support of
e-cigarettes to help smokers quit, stating that what studies
we have “demonstrate a positive relationship between the
use of e-cigarettes and smoking cessation.”
14 | VM15