Philippines : Anti-tobacco organization asks for e-cig regulations

The NVAP is a tobacco control, persons with disability and cancer prevention advocacy group based in the Philippines. To support his argument, the organization’s president, Emer Rojas cited the study by the University of California which was released back in July 2016, and had concluded “adolescents who reported e-cigarette use had more than six times the odds of initiating cigarette use as never e-cigarette users. These findings suggest e-cigarette use may increase the risk of smoking during the transition to adulthood”

Unfortunately this study was considered unsound, and had been criticised by several health experts. However it is now being taken on by the NVAP in a clear example as to how misinformation can be detrimental, as once any kind of information is released, whether it is accurate or not, it is going to have an impact.

The ripple effect of misinformation

The study in question had insisted on the gateway effect, the infamous theory that vaping products can be a stepping stone for adolescents to progress to smoking by becoming hooked on nicotine, via the enticing e-liquid flavours available. However the gateway theory has been disproved over and over again, and recent studies have been finding the exact opposite, that if a gateway to anything, electronic cigarettes are serving as a gateway to quitting cigarettes for good.

However Rojas insisted, “More and more studies are showing its adverse effects on one’s health … the government cannot just sit idly while more and more people are now puffing on e-cigarettes and in danger of getting addicted to nicotine.”

Misguided action

Sadly, if Rojas’s plea is heard, it will have the opposite effect of what the NVAP is trying to achieve. In the UK where vaping products have been endorsed for harm reduction and smoking cessation, and their use is even encouraged by stop smoking services, the rate of smokers in the country has reached a record low.