Bonkers about Vaping
Bonkers about Vaping: Think ecig evidence ought to silence the critics? Think again
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by Dave Cross
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Say ‘hello’ to Doctor Frank Atherton, Frank is to be the new Chief Medical Officer for Wales. While some new brooms sweep clean, this one appears to be avoiding the dirt on the floor and repeating the mistakes of his past.
Atherton is currently the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health in the Department of Health and Wellness in Nova Scotia, Canada. During his time in his position he has helped to implement blinkered controls on vaping that include a ban on using devices in public spaces.
His predecessor in Wales was Ruth Hussey, also a staunch advocate of a public spaces vape ban. In April, she said “E-cigarettes could normalise smoking among a generation which has grown up in a largely smoke-free society.” There is little by way of evidence to support her stance although research by Professor Robert West, as part of the Smoking Toolkit Study, strongly refutes any link.
Her claims of vaping renormalising smoking became a mantra to be repeated by ex-Health Minister Mark Drakeford at any opportunity. Drakeford and Hussey pushed for the ban but ended up losing the vote just prior to the Welsh Assembly being dissolved.
Atherton, in his first interview since his appointment was announced, has picked up this cause – but the first Minister, Carwyn Jones had already said that ban proposals would not make it into the Public Health Bill next time around. He said: “There’s still evolving evidence around e-cigarettes,” he said before acknowledging the Royal College’s report recommendations. This dog will probably not loose his grip on the vape ban bone in a hurry though.
At least there’s acknowledgement on Atherton’s part that ecigs have a role to play – unlike in Nigeria. In an article titled 2 Things to Avoid in Nigeria if You Want to Live Longer, ecigs figure as the first item (the other being vitamin supplements). It’s odd given that the leading causes of demise in the country are infectious and parasitic diseases, followed by cardio-vascular disease and neonatal deaths.
But no, forget about things like AIDS, focus on us saying: “Vaping is Dangerous”! Is there any evidence to support such a ridiculous claim? Erm, no. What the article does cite is the Still Blowing Smoke website which has been roundly mocked by all who have ever read it.
It is possible that the article’s author, like Frank Atherton, is well meaning – but they both appear to be wholly ignorant of the facts. What could be done to open their eyes?
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous vape companies to develop content for their websites.
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