New Zealand May Become the Second Country to Fully Support Vaping as a Smoking Cessation Tool

The fundamental reason New Zealand advocates for e-cigarettes is that they aim to become a smoke-free country by 2025.

The government has proposed a series of recommendations, such as gradually raising the minimum legal age for smoking, leading to a complete ban on cigarette sales, while also considering significantly reducing the allowable nicotine content in tobacco products, banning the use of filters, setting a minimum sales price for tobacco, and restricting the sales points for cigarettes and their raw materials.

Media reports indicate that one in four people in New Zealand dies from cancer, with tobacco poisoning being the main culprit, and approximately 500,000 people smoke daily in New Zealand.

Aisha Verol, Deputy Minister of Health in New Zealand, stated when announcing these reform measures that about 4,500 people die from tobacco each year in New Zealand, and it is necessary to accelerate the pace towards a smoke-free goal, thus new methods need to be adopted.

E-cigarettes have become one of the important new methods.

New Zealand has approved e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid, also officially recognizing the status of e-cigarettes at the national level.

Let’s take a look at how New Zealand is doing this.

According to the New Zealand Ministry of Health website, the government’s attitude towards e-cigarettes includes the following aspects:

1. E-cigarettes are not suitable for children or minors.

2. E-cigarettes are not suitable for non-smokers.

3. E-cigarettes are not harmless, but they are much less harmful than smoking.

4. E-cigarettes can help some people quit smoking.

New Zealand believes that e-cigarettes have the potential to help people quit smoking and contribute to the country's smoke-free goal by 2025.

To this end, the New Zealand Health Promotion Agency's official website has a channel about the truth of e-cigarettes, with relevant information provided by the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Agency.

The e-cigarette truth channel has a total of five sections: VAPEFREE SCHOOLS, THE FACTS OF VAPING, VAPING VS SMOKING, VAPING TO QUIT SMOKING, and OUR POSITION.

1. VAPEFREE SCHOOLS

E-cigarettes are not suitable for young people. Although they can help people quit smoking, if you do not smoke, do not use e-cigarettes. The role of schools is to enable students to make informed decisions about e-cigarettes by educating them about the facts.

In addition, the government will guide schools, teachers, and parents.

1. Through the e-cigarette law, it is stipulated that e-cigarettes cannot be used in places where children or minors gather, such as schools, educational training centers, and nursing centers, which must post no smoking signs.

2. Educate students about the dangers of e-cigarettes so that they can make informed choices.

3. Through parental education.

4. Schools will conduct scientific introduction activities similar to those for alcohol and drugs.

2. THE FACTS OF VAPING

New Zealand believes that there are many different views and beliefs about e-cigarettes. Some say they are as bad as smoking, while others say they help quit smoking. It actually lies somewhere in between: e-cigarettes are not suitable for non-smokers, but they may help smokers quit.

This section also lists information about the risks, laws, policies, and related side effects of e-cigarettes.

1. Understand what e-cigarettes are.

2. Regarding the risks of e-cigarettes, the biggest risk is the unknown risks. E-cigarettes have not been around long enough to understand the risks of long-term use, but we do know that they are less harmful than smoking.

What we currently know:

Inhaling any product unnecessarily into the lungs is not ideal, which is why non-smokers should not use e-cigarettes. However, for those who smoke, switching to e-cigarettes may significantly reduce health risks.

Generally, smokers who switch to e-cigarettes will reduce their exposure to various toxic substances.

The risks associated with long-term e-cigarette use are still unclear. While e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking, they are unlikely to be completely harmless. Ideally, smokers who are quitting should also consider eventually stopping e-cigarettes.

For years, scientists have been unable to determine any health risks associated with e-cigarettes. The Ministry of Health has the responsibility to continue monitoring these risks.

What we do not know:

We do not know what is in e-cigarette oil, as New Zealand has not yet established safety standards for e-cigarette products.

The risk of cancer: Current estimates suggest that if e-cigarettes are found to be related to cancer, the risk will be only a small fraction of the risk of smoking.

Impact on others: There is currently no evidence that secondhand vapor from e-cigarettes is harmful to bystanders' health. There are concerns that young people may start using e-cigarettes.

3. The most common side effects of e-cigarettes include: coughing, dry mouth, shortness of breath, irritation of the mouth and throat, and headaches.

In terms of addiction, nicotine can be addictive and is present in some e-cigarette oils. Nicotine itself is not very harmful to adults, but other substances inhaled with nicotine may be harmful.

4. Do not use e-cigarettes while pregnant. Expectant mothers should quit smoking.

5. The Smoke-Free Environment and Regulated Products (E-Cigarettes) Amendment Act came into effect on November 11, 2020. This act balances ensuring that smokers who wish to switch to less harmful alternatives can use e-cigarette products while ensuring that these products are not marketed or sold to young people. The provisions of this act will be implemented in phases over time.

3. VAPING VS SMOKING

The difference between smoking and vaping is that smoking delivers nicotine through burning tobacco, which leads to smoking-related diseases, while vaping can deliver nicotine by heating liquid in a less harmful way.

Smoking is harmful to health because the toxins produced by burning tobacco lead to smoking-related diseases. When you quit smoking completely, you will see most health benefits. Some people find that reducing smoking is a useful step towards quitting, but complete cessation should be the ultimate goal.

E-cigarettes are not harmless, but they are much less harmful than smoking.

The healthiest choice is not to vape or smoke. If you do not smoke, do not use e-cigarettes.

In terms of relative harm:

Smoking: 100%

Less smoking and vaping: 85%

Only vaping: 6%

Not smoking or vaping: 0%

4. VAPING TO QUIT SMOKING

Quitting smoking can be difficult. Vaping is a method to quit smoking by absorbing nicotine and reducing the toxins produced by burning tobacco. You can maintain social interactions, spend less money, and once you quit smoking, you will feel better.

While vaping is much less harmful than smoking, it is not harmless. Therefore, you should also plan to eventually quit vaping, provided you know you will not smoke again.

5. OUR POSITION

Vaping is not for children or young people.
Vaping is not for non-smokers.
The best thing you can do for your health is to be smokefree and vape free.
Vaping is not harmless but it is much less harmful than smoking.
Vaping can help some people quit smoking.
Translated:

E-cigarettes are not suitable for children or young people.
E-cigarettes are not suitable for non-smokers.
The best thing you can do for your health is not to smoke and not to vape.
E-cigarettes are not harmless, but they are much less harmful than smoking.
E-cigarettes can help some people quit smoking.