Ammon – International experts specializing in the principle of harm reduction and the risks of tobacco stressed that electronic tobacco products significantly reduce the spread of traditional cigarettes with high damage resulting from the process of burning tobacco, calling for the need to allow the circulation of these modern products to counter the danger of traditional cigarettes.
This came during the Seventh Annual Electronic Cigarette Summit, which was held in Washington, DC, to discuss the latest scientific research on electronic cigarettes, with the aim of seeking to reduce smoking-related deaths and diseases.
Dr. Brian King, Director of the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), stressed during the opening session that e-cigarettes as a general product are less harmful than traditional cigarettes that depend on the combustion of tobacco, and that there are misconceptions that make us hold nicotine responsible for many of damages and is not responsible for it. Stressing the need to work to correct these misconceptions.
For his part, Professor Kenneth Warner, Professor and Honorary Dean of the College of Public Health, University of Michigan, USA, said that the main criticism of electronic cigarettes at the beginning of their appearance was due to the fear that they would increase the rates of traditional smoking, but the fact is that smoking rates among young people have decreased at the fastest rate. Especially when electronic smoking became common among them.
Professor David Levy, Professor of Medical Oncology at Lombardle Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, described the reduction in traditional smoking as “incredible”.
He explained that according to research data, traditional smoking has decreased by about 65% in the age groups from 25 to 44 years, as a result of the use of alternative products, and despite the high rates of use of cigarettes that depend on heating, this has a positive impact on the health of the world, while the age group is 55 -64 years, and it witnessed a slight decline among males, but the use of e-cigarettes is slightly less. As for the age groups over 65 years old, the use of e-cigarettes is clearly very low.
David Levy called for the necessity of preserving public health gains, through the sharp decline in the use of traditional cigarettes that occurred in recent years, as well as working to support the elderly in the face of traditional smoking.
Professor Peter Hajek, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Tobacco Dependence Research Unit, Wolfson Institute of Public Health, Queen Mary University of London, confirmed that studies have shown that liberalizing electronic tobacco products is the most appropriate measure to reduce traditional smoking rates, and allowing these products reduces harm On public health, banning them gives combustible tobacco products a competitive advantage, making them more accessible, which poses a great risk and threatens with very unpredictable and costly consequences.
