THIS GROUNDBREAKING REPORT FROM PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (PHE) HAS RECENTLY BEEN RELEASED AND IS GREAT NEWS FOR ALL OF US THAT VAPE.
The report was put together and complied by several academics, including Professor Anne McNeil from Kings College London and Professor Hajek from The London School of Medicine.
Professor Hajek said, “My reading of the evidence is that smokers who switch to vaping remove almost all the risks smoking poses to their health.” This must be one of the strongest positive statements regarding e-cigarettes by an academic to date.
When discussing the gateway theory of vaping leading to smoking, the report stated: We strongly suggest that use of the gateway terminology be abandoned until it is clear how the theory can be tested in this field.
Professor Anne McNeil concluded, “There is no evidence that e-cigarettes are undermining England’s falling smoking rates. Instead the evidence consistently finds that e-cigarettes are another tool for stopping smoking and in my view smokers should try vaping and vapers should stop smoking entirely.”
BUT WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR US VAPERS? WILL THIS CHANGE ANYTHING?
The report itself should be widely welcomed and applauded. It is fantastic news that this report has been put together, but what we need to see next is how this report will impact upon the Public Health policies of the UK. Will this create a positive change in attitude towards e-cigarettes, and will it affect the implementation of the TPD?
The report mentions TW and the legal challenge, which despite this excellent news is still very much needed. This report will not unfortunately make the TPD disappear in a puff of blue smoke, it is still due to be implemented next year and, if anything, this report should have all vapers fighting even harder to have the TPD thrown out. The evidence shown by PHE proves once again that the TPD is utterly terrible and, will cause an incredible product to be virtually removed from the market causing many to go back to smoking.
THE KEY FINDINGS OF THE REPORT INCLUDE:
The current best estimate is that e-cigarettes are around 95% less harmful than smoking
Nearly half the population (44.8%) don’t realise e-cigarettes are much less harmful than smoking
There is no evidence so far that e-cigarettes are acting as a route into smoking for children or non-smokers
