In yet another statement spreading falsehoods about vaping, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, questioned the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking cessation aid, and even claimed vaping acts as a gateway to smoking.
Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) Michael Landl, said it is distressing that the EC is still ignoring the science about vaping and making such claims. “It is shocking that the EU Commission still peddles these worn-out and debunked theories. The Commission systematically ignores the wealth of scientific evidence pointing to the benefits of vaping, not to mention the first-hand experience of millions of vapers. Vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking and a more effective method to quit smoking than traditional therapies such as gum and patches. The Commission’s approach to vaping will do nothing but cost lives.”
The statement in question is a written response to a query by MEP Sara Skyttedal regarding the future treatment of vaping and snus, and where they fit in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. “Overall, smokeless and emerging tobacco and related products contain nicotine, a toxic and highly addictive substance – responsible for well-known health consequences – and they prolong the nicotine addiction3 . This is why these products are regulated and in the case of oral tobacco, banned in the EU,” concluded the statement.
Sadly, instead of considering the science on nicotine, Commissioner Kyriakides insists on refusing to listen to science, experts, and consumers. “The statement shows that the EU Commission intends to further crackdown on vaping. This is not a good sign regarding the upcoming Tobacco Products Directive update. This strengthens our conviction that consumers need to raise their voices. We need to convince our representatives in the European Parliament to push back on the Commission’s hostility towards harm reduction,” added Landl.
Peer reviewed studies indicate otherwise
Meanwhile, countless studies keep indicating the effectiveness of vaping products as smoking cessation aids. The study titled, “The effectiveness of using e‐cigarettes for quitting smoking compared to other cessation methods among adults in the United Kingdom,” is a recent example of such a study.
The researchers analysed data from a 1155 respondents aged between 18 and 81, from a longitudinal online survey collected between 2012 and 2017. “Compared with using no help, the odds of abstinence were increased by daily use of disposable/cartridge e-cigarettes (ECs) and daily use of refill/modular. Odds were reduced by non‐daily use of disposable/cartridge, and by use of disposable/cartridge ECs to quit and no longer using at follow‐up.Secondary Results were similar to the primary outcome; however, odds of abstinence were also increased by use of smoking cessation medication,” reported the paper.
“When used daily, electronic cigarettes appear to facilitate abstinence from smoking when compared with using no help,” concluded the researchers.