The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand (ARFNZ) has once again made a health declaration without providing any evidence to support it. "If they want their warnings to be taken seriously, they need to provide some evidence," said Nancy Loucas, co-founder of the New Zealand Vaping Advocacy Group (AVCA).
She made her comments following ARFNZ's call for New Zealanders to steer clear of e-cigarettes to safeguard their lung health and prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day falls on November 16th.
The AVCA has stated that ARFNZ should read the medical research published by renowned expert in the field of respiratory health and tobacco harm reduction (THR), Professor Riccardo Polosa. He has received numerous accolades internationally.
Professor Polosa's work thoroughly demonstrates that patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experience improved respiratory symptoms after fully switching from traditional cigarettes to electronic cigarettes. Another review conducted by Professor Polosa concluded that, compared to traditional smoking, electronic cigarettes cause much less damage to the lungs.
Electronic cigarettes are not perfect, but their harm is far less than smoking. ARFNZ has not supported the Ministry of Health in using electronic cigarettes as an effective smoking cessation tool, but instead continues to manufacture nonexistent hysteria. If ARFNZ wants New Zealand to become smoke-free by 2025, then it needs to acknowledge the role of electronic cigarettes instead of scaring smokers who are eager to quit," said Ms. Loucas.
She stated that New Zealand has implemented effective tobacco harm reduction (THR) strategies, resulting in the country's overall smoking rate being at its lowest in history. With the government refocusing on the New Zealand 2025 Smokefree Plan, which aims to reduce smoking rates by 5%, being smokefree is now becoming a reality.
ARFNZ is doing everything in its power to prevent remaining smokers from switching to safer alternatives. They fail to mention that there have been no reported deaths from e-cigarettes among New Zealanders, or that the UK Department of Public Health still maintains that e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than combustible cigarettes.
Ms. Loucas suggests that individuals who use e-cigarettes or their loved ones and friends seek out reliable advice on the matter by visiting the Ministry of Health's website www.vapingfacts.health.nz.
The amendment on smoke-free environments and regulated products (tobacco smoking) will be reported back from the Health Select Committee by December 1st.
AVCA believes that ARFNZ is making every effort to revive the country's fully comprehensive e-cigarette legislation, which was due to be implemented in 2020. Meanwhile, around 5,000 New Zealanders die every year from smoking-related illnesses.
The parliament is in the process of passing a bill to combat the harmful effects of cigarettes by restricting their use and attractiveness. This should be of great concern to ARFNZ. Instead, they continue to undermine the government and health department's stance on e-cigarettes and cause confusion amongst consumers," she said.
According to the AVCA, ARFNZ is not the only ones engaged in spreading misinformation. The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to claim that there is growing evidence to suggest that vaping causes lung damage. However, a recent white paper authored by international THR experts has concluded that such claims are "outrageous and completely unfounded lies.
Ms. Loucas presented a white paper titled "Disrupting Public Health: Consumer Perspectives" at the 5th Asia Harm Reduction Forum (AHRF 2022) held recently. To read it, please visit https://caphraorg.net/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/white-paper-subversion_of_public_health.pdf.
Nancy Loucas suggests that ARFNZ should join the country's ten-year smoke-free ambition and successful THR strategy. If it is unable to accept the numerous positive case studies of science and smokers quitting, then it should at least remain silent.
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