Research Warning: Ban Will Increase Smoking
A new survey from Yorkshire Cancer Research is warning that people will switch back to smoking now that disposable vapes have been banned in England, Wales and Scotland
-
by Dave Cross
Share on:
A new survey from Yorkshire Cancer Research is warning that people will switch back to smoking now that disposable vapes have been banned in England, Wales and Scotland. According to the charity’s findings, 18% of those living in the Yorkshire region who currently use disposable vapes stated that they intend to switch to smoking tobacco products when the new ban came into force on Sunday. This is terrible news if similar actions play out across the whole of Great Britain.
The charity has called for the Government to make sure vaping products remain accessible and affordable to people who want to quit smoking, warning that the ban could harm efforts to save lives.
Dr Stuart Griffiths, Director of Research, Policy and Impact at Yorkshire Cancer Research said: “We must ensure that the transition away from disposable vapes does not lead to an increase in smoking. It’s crucial that people are provided with the best possible support and tools to move from smoking to less harmful alternatives.”
Yorkshire Cancer Research has always vocally supported the use of vaping as a tool to quit smoking and spearheaded programmes and initiatives to help bring better understanding of, and access to, vapes for people who smoke across its region.
“Vapes are one of the most popular and effective stop smoking aids and can result in many more quits when included in stop smoking services,” the charity said.
A trial funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and delivered by Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale recently found that the percentage of people who successfully quit smoking was higher among people who used vaping alone (79%), compared to people who chose nicotine replacement therapy (73%) and people who chose only behavioural support (71%).
A recent YouGov survey of more than 2,000 adults in Yorkshire found that disposable products, which are cheaper than rechargeable kits at point of purchase, have been the preferred option for nearly a quarter (23%) of people in Yorkshire who vape.
Dr Griffiths continued: “Disposable vapes are often used by people on no or little incomes who may find the initial expense of a starter kit too great, or struggle to keep a vape charged if they do not have reliable and consistent accommodation.
“Since smoking and smoking-related cancers disproportionately affect people from disadvantaged backgrounds, there is a real risk that the ban on disposable vapes could negatively affect efforts to address health inequalities.
“We urge the Government to provide adequate funding for effective stop smoking support services that offer access to vaping products, and specifically to ensure that whenever someone who smokes uses NHS services, they are automatically offered stop smoking support.”
Research shows that vaping has a significantly lower cancer risk than smoking, with key chemicals linked to cancer present at much lower levels in people who vape compared to people who smoke. Despite this, troublingly, the survey found that 59% of people in Yorkshire think vaping products are more or equally as harmful as smoking – something the ban will only serve to reinforce.
To help counter these misconceptions, Yorkshire Cancer Research supports public health initiatives that positively highlight the difference in risk between smoking and vaping. The charity is calling for a comprehensive public health campaign to dispel the myths around vaping and provide a reliable source of information for people who smoke, encouraging them to stop for good.
Dr Griffiths concluded: "The charity welcomes the new powers given to Ministers in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to regulate the display of vapes. Ministers should use powers granted by the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to move vaping products to behind the counter locations in retail shops. This can help keep vapes out of the hands of children by preventing vapes from being displayed alongside toys and sweets.
“However, given the proportion of people in Yorkshire who think that vaping products are equally or more harmful than cigarettes it is important that, if vaping products are moved behind the counter, marketing positively highlights the difference in risk between smoking and vaping"
References:
Free Stop Smoking Support - https://www.yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/improving-cancer-survival/stop-smoking-support
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 start-ups to develop content for their websites.
