NEWS
HOW DID IT COME TO THIS ?
In his latest – and final – SPOTLIGHT on Canada , celebrated director Aaron Biebert gave a sombre look at the country ’ s anti-vaping landscape . Throughout the ‘ Without Us ’ mini-doc , Biebert reflected on his own time investigating harm reduction in Canada and heard from doctors , experts and activists who all passionately defended vaping . Biebert also highlighted that the vaping community is being ‘ bullied , shamed and ignored ’, all while the short film ’ s haunting soundtrack asked : ‘ How did it come to this ?’
B-ARMY ANTI-VAPE MESSAGE
A tweet from the US Army ’ s Public Health Center sparked fury online after it spread the ‘ irresponsible ’ message that adult smokers should avoid smokefree products . It featured a cartoon of a vape and cigarette , warning that nicotine is ‘ addictive ’ and ‘ harmful ’ no matter how it ’ s delivered . Greg Conley of the American Vaping Association said : “ Thrilled to see the US Army has joined the vaping wars and doesn ’ t feel a responsibility to give complete and accurate information to people who are willing to die for their country .”
A MAGIC BULLET ?
If you could travel through 360 different realities , vaping could help you quit smoking in 357 of them , new research has found . University of Michigan scientists used complex computer modelling , based on real world data , to determine the effectiveness of vaping in hundreds of possible scenarios . The study - A Magic Bullet ? The Potential Impact of E-Cigarettes on the Toll of Cigarette Smoking - concluded : “ On average , vaping-induced quitters gain an extra 1.2 to two years of life compared to smokers who quit without vaping .”
EVERYONE DESERVES HARM REDUCTION
THE REAL COST OF SMOKING
The UK ’ s leading vape advocacy group has teamed-up with Ipswich Night Shelter to help homeless people kick the habit . A number of UK Vaping Industry Association members – including Riot Labs , Oxford Vapours and V2 Cigs , have already donated hundreds of vape products under the partnership . The Ipswich Night Shelter has also set-up a designated vaping room to further help guests on their quitting journeys . Ben Johnson of Riot Squad said : “ Harm reduction should touch all parts of society and we ’ re committed to helping people quit … no matter what their circumstances .”
Smoking costs England ’ s society an eyewatering £ 17 billion every year - £ 5 billion more than previously estimated – warns shocking new data . The Action on Smoking and Health report stressed that cigarettes and tobacco addiction are a significant burden , draining the NHS of more than £ 2 billion in annual funding alone . It also revealed that loss of productivity from smoking-related illness and death clocks in at over £ 13 billion and ‘ fire costs ’ total almost £ 300 million . The report added that , if England could ‘ stub out smoking for good ’, it could generate around 500,000 jobs and millions in public finances .
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