Vaping In The News covers media stories on smoking, vaping, snus, heat not burn, e-cigarettes, exposing tobacco control, public health, government, regulations, policies and more worldwide.
“The largest threat to Public Health is an informed consumer.”
Angry Vapers Force Australian Health Minister to Back Down ~ Health Minister delays ban on prescription nicotine-based e-cigarettes ~ Perverse Psychology ~ Trigger ~ HK Ban Prop Dropped ~ First PMTA from an Indie Vape Manufacturer Submitted ~ David Dorn’s “The Pleasure Principle” revisited ~ Associations of Flavored e-Cigarette Uptake With Subsequent Smoking Initiation and Cessation ~ The past is not the future in tobacco control ~ Slice & Dice | Vape Crusader Fights Toe-To-Toe | RegWatch
Angry Vapers Force Australian Health Minister to Back Down
On the 26th of January, in fast and accurate form as always, Jim McDonald breaks down the FIGHT in Australia.
If that didn’t trigger you… (Blame Michelle Minton, I warned you), I’ve made a nifty-diftly little meme for you to connect the dots from the FDA, flowing through non-profit political front groups posing as “public health”.
They’re blaming YOU in business for something THEY created – and they’re getting away with it. But, think for yourself. I’m here to help. You’re welcome.
HK Ban Prop Dropped
“It welcomed the science-based approach that embraces the concept of tobacco harm reduction”… see what Dave has to say:
Greg Conley @GregTHR at the #GFN20. See conference video. Greg is one of the most prominent defenders of vaping in the US and has appeared on CNN, Fox News & MSNBC – as well as at the White House. His talk? ‘Powerful forces not always benign’ https://t.co/73DnKq4wRO
— Global Forum on Nicotine (@GFNicotine) June 24, 2020
First PMTA from an Indie Vape Manufacturer Submitted
— Charles A. Gardner, PhD (@ChaunceyGardner) June 28, 2020
The Pleasure Principle revisited…
David Dorn, if you remember, was at the Global Forum on Nicotine in 2016. He made a speech. Now in June of 2020, Samantha below finds it, loves it, and explains it. David’s work did not, and will not, go unnoticed or forgotten as long as I’m around.
THIS is another reason I love Twitter and do what I ‘do’.
The Pleasure Principle, love it! This NEVER enters Public Health rhetoric. There is zero understanding that smokers ENJOY smoking and that ex smokers who switch to vaping, enjoy it EVEN MORE….@LegaliseVapinghttps://t.co/63oBqOi83X
Associations of Flavored e-Cigarette Uptake With Subsequent Smoking Initiation and Cessation
17,929 participants? Nice! It’s not as large as Dr. Farsalino’s largest ever found here with 69,233 participants, and submitted to the FDA as Docket No. FDA-2017-N-6565_FARSALINOS.pdf. (We’ve NEVER heard a word since that I’m aware of).
“In this study, adults who began vaping nontobacco-flavored e-cigarettes were more likely to quit smoking than those who vaped tobacco flavors.”
'Flavored' e-cigarettes = 2.3X more effective for smoking cessation than tobacco flavor. Yes.
Finally, I hope you can bear an hour and a half of listening to me with Brent Stafford of RegWatch, he invited me (yay!) on to discuss a few things… I was honored to be invited and followed a great number of people I’ve admired over the years on his show.
I want to thank Cindy Schmidt specifically for reminding me of the reason I do what I do, and the perspective and kind words she had at the beginning of the show, and for Mike Peterson’s words and of course, vapers.org.uk.
Among other topics Brent Stafford covers, are you familiar with hundreds of guests in the vaper space from consumers, industry, and public health experts appearing on RegWatch?
Let’s change the conversation about the myths surrounding nicotine and vaping.
The government resists ignores the opportunity to correct myths surrounding nicotine, vaping, and snus. Most things shared in mainstream media is full of multi-layered bias. There are difficultiesexplaining admitting vaping products and nicotine (and snus) are a safer, less harmful alternative to smoking, and the government continues to mislead the public.
Let’s change the conversation.
Myth:
Vaping does not work.
Truth:
Vaping does work.
Current nicotine cessation products show smoking cessation rates below 7% at 1 year.
Dr. Gottlieb knows the 93% failure rate is accurate.
However, what you’re not being told they won’t admit: Without question, e-cigarettes have shown extremely high success rates. A survey conducted by the Moffitt Cancer Center funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) showed as far back as 2013: 79% had completely quit smoking cigarettes
An immediate transition
42% quit switched in one day. 75%stopped smokingswitched within a month in (my) global survey of 7,238 participants. While some ‘experts’ believe this is bias because vapers participated, this shows ‘real world’ beneficial bias. I found their experience similar to mine and wanted the world to know. So did they.
Flavors: This United States survey, the largest survey ever performed on e-cigarette use in terms of sample size with 69,233, shows flavors was associated with significantlyhigher odds of adults having quit switched with vaping products and was submitted to the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA has not published or utilized these findings to my knowledge.
“They want to regulate, restrict, tax and ban less smoking.”
Consider this:
Did you know “it may take 30 or more quit attempts before being successful” They DO.
56 more demonstrating vaping products are less harmful than cigarettes or are effective to switchcan be found here.
Dr. Farsalinos “has been conducting laboratory and clinical research on e-cigarettes as a principal investigator since 2011” has his research found here.
Point To Ponder:
The FDA experimented with Chantix on 12-16-year-olds. “The study failed to meet the main goal”. You read that right. It’s here.
Fun Fact: They are encouraging more smoking.
According to this press release: “Agencies of the U.S. federal government have invested more than $100 million in independent clinical research with SPECTRUM cigarettes”
Dr. Gottlieb, along with the majority of non-profit “health” organizations are excited to support more combustible cigarettes (with “lower nicotine“) entering the market.
There’s More:
This February 2018article from Moffit Cancer Center, where Thomas H. Brandon, Moffit’s Director of Tobacco Research and Intervention Program is in the middle of “a large national study” and states “my perspective that e-cigarettes represent the most important change in the landscape of tobacco use during my 36 years in this field. We need to harness this change to maximize the public health benefit“.
Dr. Brandon acknowledges quitting takes “several serious attempts” and smokers should make use of the seven products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and adds: “And yes, e-cigarettes, whatever works!” (Article.)
Let’s change the conversation.
It’s time for public health and politicians to
make a decision:
You want less smoking, or you don’t.
You want less harm, or you don’t.
Not the only one wanting to change the conversation with public perception, Dr. David Abrams of New York University agrees with Public Health England’s 2015 report.
According to this article, he knows vaping products are “substantially less harmful than cigarettes“.
Again, changing the conversation is paramount to “reframe societal views of nicotine use” and stressed the need to “get out the latest accurate information about reduced harm”, along with the need for “ethics and integrity in responsibly interpreting the scientific evidence with rigor” is a necessity in this Annual Reviews of Public Health.
Consider this:
YOU are CASAA. The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives has been changing the conversation since 2009. There are thousands of real-world testimonials here, and it is free to be a member and I encourage you to join here.
Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life (THR4Life) is another consumer group. THR4Life wants to change the conversation by supporting and educating consumers.
WHY are government officials withholding information on legal consumer nicotine/tobacco products from the public?
Simply use “vapinglinks” at checkout for 15% off your entire cart!
Please visit my proud sponsor
Myth:
E-liquid is a tobacco product
Truth:
As of August 8th, 2016, e-liquid (with or without nicotine) and vaping products are “deemed” (looked on, or to regard or consider in a specified way) tobacco products for the sole purpose of then regulating, restricting, taxing (like cigarettes) and even banning them.
Milk is not beef. Syrupis not wood. Grapes and hops are not alcohol. Almonds are not milk. Nicotine is not tobacco.
Sources for nicotine patches, gums, inhalers, and e-liquid all come from the same source. While some e-liquids do contain nicotine extracted from the tobacco plant, it can also be synthetic.
Exempt? Nicotine patches, gums, inhalers
It’s the same nicotine. “Nicotine can also be purchased in many other forms including patches, chewing gum, and liquid extract formula.” That’s here.
Vaping products and nicotine replacements like patches contain nicotine, I’m trading one addiction for another. Vaping is just like smoking.
Truth:
No. These products are different and the likelihood of addiction is very low.
While the nicotineitself is the same nicotine, these products deliver nicotine differently and have a much lower risk of addiction than cigarettes.
“To debate a comparison of e-cigarettes to combustible tobacco is gross negligence or voluntary incompetence.”
There are other chemicals in cigarettes, like ammonia, for enhancing nicotine delivery. There is much more to it. “Research is showing that nicotine may not be the only ingredient in tobacco that affects its addictive potential” and “…likely caused by some as-yet-unidentified ingredient in tobacco smoke other than nicotine.”
You can see more about this hidden at the bottom of the page in purple from drugfacts.org here.
There’s More:
I understand your skepticism about nicotine. In fact, despite what you’ve heard since the 1988 Surgeon General’s report, there is no proof nicotine addiction exists.
This, from Hanan Frenk and Reuven Dar, says claiming nicotine addiction “could only be sustained by systematically ignoring all contradictory evidence” and “is remarkably biased and misleading.”.
Still not convinced? I still understand your skepticism.
Consider this:
This is ground-breaking research on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Paul Newhouse is director of Vanderbilt University’s Center for Cognitive Medicine.
“…and nobody started smoking cigarettes.”
“It seems very safe even in nonsmokers,” he said. “In our studies we find it actually reduces blood pressure chronically. And there were no addiction or withdrawal problems, and nobody started smoking cigarettes. The risk of addiction to nicotine alone is virtually nil.”
The effects of nicotine itself are similar to that other popular drug, caffeine. There is no evidence that nicotine causes any substantial risk for cancer, and the research shows that the risk for cardiovascular disease is minimal. The confusion about nicotine comes from anti-smoking activists talking about nicotine and smoking as if they were the same.
This website also has information about smokeless tobaccoincluding snus.
In Florida, Dr. Lee, faced with a five-year-old (at the time) experiencing “20 seizures a night” with a rare form of epilepsy decided to administer nicotine via a patch. Dr. Lee also “found evidence that a nicotine patch helped stopped seizures in an adult”.
No one has proven themselves right with criteria provided in my “Nicotine Addiction: An Open 30-Day Public Health Challenge“.
Myth:
There are no side effects from vaping products.
Truth:
An important point for someone considering vaping as an alternative, Vaping 360 has some astounding information on their website. One example is ‘The Potential Side Effects from Vaping“.
Also, some have experienced allergic reactions to propylene glycol.
Myth:
If I use vaping products, I will experience no withdrawal symptoms or cravings quitting smoking during my transition.
Truth:
Vaping products reduce withdrawal symptoms associated with cigarette smoking.
In fact, many (mentioned in the survey linked above) experienced little or no withdrawal symptoms during their transition. Nicotine strength is essential.
Let’s change the conversation in the next myth below.
Myth:
If I start vaping, nicotine strength should be reduced as soon as possible.
Truth:
You should not limit your nicotine strength.
During your transition, the strength of nicotine you choose mimics the throat hit you experienced while smoking. It’s your pleasure. If you decide to switch, it is recommended nicotine strength matches to make the transition easier. There are also nicotine calculators to estimate your nicotine strength.
As an example, if you smoke heavily, your nicotine strength should be 12, 16, 18, or 24mg. Strengths do go higher, (36, 54 and even as high as 72mg). If you are a light smoker, it may only be 0, 3, 6 or 9mg nicotine strength you would be satisfied with. Start higher, and over time you can lower your nicotine if you feel you should. Your local vape shop should be able to determine your needs.
Since myths of nicotine have been ingrained into the public and culture so long, finding this study showing higher nicotine strengths was intriguing.
Myth:
Nicotine causes cancer.
Truth:
Nicotine does NOT cause cancer.
There’s More:
World renowned cardiologist Dr. Farsalinos explains in this article: “Nicotine does not cause cancer“, he goes on to say “All medical experts around the world know this to be a true fact. And yet, many continue making the mistake of associating nicotine with cancer.”
Only healthy people can use Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), or nicotine.
Truth:
The effects of NRT and vaping products on the body is not “fully known”, but these products are safer than cigarettes. By using vaping products to switch from smoking, “you reduce your exposure to many chemicals found in tobacco smoke.”
In fact, 85% of the medical professionals in this survey said they are safer than combustible cigarettes.
If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor before doing so. Some find as patients, they are educating their doctors.
Under the direction of your doctor, most people can use NRT. Generally, NRT and vaping products can be safely used by people with diabetes or high blood pressure and does not increase the risk of heart attacks.
No, there is no “epidemic”. With bold being my emphasis, It may surprise you to see this via Clive Bates:
“Applying this proportion to the 2018 data would suggest about 4% of high school students are daily users (this compares to the headline 20.8% use in the past 30-days).”
It is illegal to purchase these products for anyone under 18 21. (Trump amended the law in December of 2019).
That fact is on page 13 of the 499 page document found here.
Did you know?
Since 1992, retailers must “achieve a noncompliance rate of no more than 20%” selling tobacco to minors (80% is acceptable in accordance with the Synar Amendment)
Surely you can answer for yourself if you like flavors (coffee, cake, cookies, candy, Grandma’s pies, etc.). While the myth of flavors being a ‘gateway‘ to smoking for teens (it is not), it is noted flavors like fruit and desserts, pastry and other flavors areextremely important in your transition.
Myth:
E-cigarettes are a “gateway” to smoking.
Truth:
More truthful information across the board = less harm.
“If our primary concern is population-level trends in youth and young adult smoking, which we believe is appropriate, then vaping has not shown to be a serious cause for concern”.
Two other studies, one here, and one from Yale shows “as a result of these bans, more teenagers are using conventional cigarettes than otherwise would have done so“, here.
There’s “anti-freeze” in e-cigarettes, and I’ve heard about “popcorn lung”.
Truth:
Blatantly lying, there is no “anti-freeze” in e-liquid. This statement is simply manipulative and absurd. As of the publishing of this post, the well respected American Academy of Pediatrics is still alluding to ‘anti-freeze’ as an ingredient in their ‘quick facts’ section here.
A twist of words on an ingredient, “facts” by various health groups and professionals. This article from Lee Johnson will ease your mind about this subject:
A valid concern. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health took that quite a bit further in a vape shop, where more than one person would be using these products.
“We evaluated concerns about exposure to vaping-related chemicals in a vape shop. Exposure to flavoring chemicals (diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, acetaldehyde), formaldehyde, nicotine, and propylene glycol were all below occupational exposure limits.”
Also see: “Results indicate e-cigarette secondhand exposures are sources of elevated nicotine and propylene glycol exposures. Secondhand exposures to e-cigarettes did not contain consistently elevated concentrations of formaldehyde or acetaldehyde.” That’s here:
Linda Bauld: “despite the lack of data of safety in pregnancy, we can be relatively confident that if the choice is between continued smoking and use of an e-cigarette (‘vaping’) then vaping is the safer option.”
“E-cigarette users with 3 or more years of use were found to have a 96% reduction in reported adverse health events after initiation use, and a resolution of 61.8% of the measured existing health problems that developed while smoking.”
“You can smoke and vape. In fact, I encourage it.”
If you are a smoker choosing to switch to vaping products, do it for your own reasons. If you smoke and vape – just to try it, that’s called “dual use“.
Should vaping products be designated as a “medical device”? Swedish courts found: “the product must have the function of preventing or treating an ailment” and are not medical devices.
Nicotine “addiction” is blamed solely on “nicotine”. Why are teens not using patches and gums to hide their addiction?
At what age is a smoker considered a smoker?
Immature Manipulative Data
While smoking among teens has reached it’s lowest levels in history, The 2018 “Monitoring The Future” survey shows teens are using e-cigarettes at ‘epidemic’ levels at 26.7%, yet fails to showdaily use (habitual).
Daily use was not asked. It did not have data showing:
What users were of legal age
What users did not use nicotine
How many were smoking and switched
Why marijuana is included with “any vaping“
Why is “use” defined as in the past thirty days, not daily
Why?
Why would anyone in the government or public health field purposely mislead the public?
When #data collected fails to generate daily data to analysis and assess information, which bias is utilized best? Is it:
Fun Fact: For the record, they want to eliminate 18, 19, and 20-year-old adults from accessing products by including vapor products with “Tobacco 21.
There’s more
They want to restrict access to cigarettes and e-cigarettes. For adults.
They already are well aware it doesn’t work. In fact, it makes no sense here. Creates more smoking, and didn’t make sense here. It also doesn’t make sense here.
The movement to raise the age to 21 for tobacco is not going to work. According to the Centers for Disease Control, underage drinking is still continuing to be a problem.
Switching and the Pleasure Principle
In the very important video below, fellow consumer David Dorn says in less than five minutes what most tobacco control expertsnever took the time to understand. He talks about switching and the pleasure principle.
It is highly recommended for smokers being pressuredand families of smokers. This should be required for anyone in the professional crowd to listen to.
Ultimately, it is about choice and pleasure. David talks about switching. Pleasure. Choice.
From the Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN2016): The Pleasure Principle – David Dorn
Why?
Why would anyone in the government or public health field purposely and knowingly mislead the public?
WHYare government officials withholding information on legal consumer nicotine/tobacco products from the public?
Let’s CHANGE The Conversation.
Along with e-cigarettes, I must point you to this important link from Dr. Brad Rodu about Mitch Zeller making false statements about smokeless tobacco needing to be part of the conversation as well. Dr. Rodu also talks about snus, and here where Mitch Zeller quietly answers Bengt Wiberg and absolutely admits snus is another alternative in the world, but no one hears that.
If the time, energy and money it took to convince the public otherwise been spent over the last ten+ years e-cigarettes have been available to educate, not manipulate, they may have achieved their goal of less smoking in the United States. I applaud the few who have stepped up despite the pressure of professional peers, and I encourage the others to do the same.
On one hand, when if authorities, legislator and public health officials swallow their pride and see the need, en mass, to listen and to change the conversation completely, they will be very embarrassed.
On the other hand, changing the conversation, for most, isn’t their goal.
Let’s change the conversation about myths surrounding nicotine and vaping.
This blog was derived, in part, from a previous post featuring James Jarvis, and “Dispelling Myths about Nicotine Replacement Therapy”: Myths about Nicotine