“The sooner a patient smokes after waking and the more cigarettes smoked daily, the more benefit is generally expected from pharmacotherapy. Some smokers are driven more by the smoking ritual and behavioural triggers and less by nicotine dependence. These smokers may benefit from behavioural counselling or vaping, with or without nicotine,” he explained.
To this effect, the health expert has long been advocating for less harsh vape regulations. He has been calling on Australian authorities to take cue from New Zealand and regulate the vaping products sensibly. He points out that while not perfect, New Zealand’s regulations are a good start and Australia should really follow suit. “The NZ regulations put Australia to shame. They are based on the evidence rather than politics and ideology. They are a model for good public health policy on vaping and will save lives.”
“Australia’s requirement for nicotine prescriptions is complex, expensive and unnecessary and makes it harder to access vaping products than cigarettes. Is that really what Greg Hunt wants?” he said recently.
