The PHE who is renowned for being actively involved in campaigning for the use of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation tools, has just released an updated report about the relative safety of vaping to when compared to smoking.
Following the release of this report, a number of health experts have come forward pointing out the importance that smokers are aware of the relative safety of e-cigarettes. “Our new review reinforces the finding that vaping is a fraction of the risk of smoking, at least 95% less harmful, and of negligible risk to bystanders.” said Director for Health Improvement at PHE, Professor John Newton.
“Yet over half of smokers either falsely believe that vaping is as harmful as smoking or just don’t know. It would be tragic if thousands of smokers who could quit with the help of an e-cigarette are being put off due to false fears about their safety.” he added.
Vaping manufacturers urged to license their products
Additionally, pointed out the PHE, medical professionals are not allowed to prescribe the products for smoking cessation, as they have not been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA). Hence, the health organization is urging manufacturers to take the necessary steps to get licensed.
Lead author of the review and professor of tobacco addiction at King’s College London, Ann McNeill, thinks that in the meantime, healthcare professionals should be encouraging smokers to try vaping. “We want stop-smoking practitioners and health professionals to support smokers who would like to use e-cigarettes to stop.”
Hospitals should replace smoking areas with vaping areas
Some hospitals such as Colchester General Hospital and Ipswich Hospital, have removed smoking areas and replaced them with outdoor vaping areas, and other hospitals are being encouraged to follow suit. “E-cigarette use has stagnated in recent years, which is hardly surprising as many smokers incorrectly believe that vaping is as harmful as smoking.” said Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the campaigning anti-tobacco group ASH. “We hope this report will provide the reassurance needed to encourage the 40% of smokers who’ve failed to quit but never tried vaping to go ahead and switch,” she added.
Read Further: The Guardian
