Vapouround magazine ISSUE 15 | Page 15

“demonstrate a positive relationship between the use of e-cigarettes and smoking cessation.” WITHIN THE PAPER ITSELF, THE AUTHORS PROVE ADEPT AT CUTTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER AND CATEGORISING THEIR ANALYSIS IN CLEAR, ACCESSIBLE WAYS. HERE ARE THE KEY TAKEAWAYS: REGULATION IS GOOD WITH EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT The authors assert the importance of the “regulation of e-cigarettes [being] underpinned by a robust evidence base” and that this evidence base must contain two essential features. Firstly an accurate “analysis of the impact of e-cigarette use on smoking behaviours” and secondly, an “assessment of the health impact of e-cigarette use.” In shallow anti-vaping think-pieces, e-cigarettes inevitably receive charges of increasing the chances of children or teenagers smoking, of causing harm equivalent to cigarettes and even being worse. Current studies, as previously chronicled in Vapouround, refute these claims. But a bad statistic or nasty rumour can be hard to quash. A regulatory approach backed by robust evidence and instigated because the data demands it would be a welcome change from regulations proposed merely for the sake of placating fears built on inaccurate stories. CURRENT RESEARCH DOES NOT POINT TO OVERT HARM IN E-CIGARETTES The BMA’s findings are in line with other studies Vapouround have previously reported on, including the claim that there is no solid reason to view second-hand vapour as the damaging menace they have been made out to be. With vaping proving overwhelmingly safer than smoking to the user, the same can be said of the bystander: “Current evidence indicates that exposure to e-cigarette vapour does not pose specific health risks – unlike exposure to second hand smoke – and that their widespread use in public places has not had unintended consequences on re-normalising smoking or on compliance with smoke-free laws. It would therefore be reasonable to support a softer regulatory approach than exists for smoking in public.” Just as importantly, the BMA also point out that this current data indicates that e-cigarette use is not “undermining compliance with smoke-free legislation.” As they are neither harming users nor bystanders, and operating within the limits of existing smoke-free legislation, regulatory expansion must be reconsidered in light of such findings. E-cigarettes have undoubtable potential for harm reduction In closing, the BMA reaffirmed its ambition of achieving a tobacco-free society, one enjoying the absence of tobacco-related diseases, ending with a firm endorsement: “Given that e-cigarettes are now the most popular device used in attempts to quit smoking, and that many people have used them to successfully quit tobacco use, they have significant potential to support this ambition, and help reduce tobacco-related harm.” New research from respected, credible sources is always welcome in an environment still building up the main body of its data. Vape companies and their allies hope to see more in the near future, so that smokers can access safe cessation tools without obstacles. VM15 | 15