Advocating Ecigs
VVTV’s Dave Dorn calls for 2015 to be the ‘Year Of The Vaping Advocate’ as we digest the findings of the “Vaping Truth” survey
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by Dave Cross
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Dorn writes on the NNAliance blog: “We need to get out there more visibly because 2015 needs to be the year of the vaping advocate. Not the shouty, loud and argumentative protester, but the calm, informed and implacable supporter of the science, the disseminator of information, and the corrector of the misapprehension.”
Successful advocacy depends on a network of individuals who have read around the subject in order to educate themselves on the issues. Individuals like you who contact local media sources, speak out on social media and reach out to politicians.
Kevin Crowley notes that there is an importance to obtaining a truthful reflection of vapers’ experiences in order to combat those opposed to vaping, frequently referred to as Antz in vaping circles. “Departments of Public Health around the world, W.H.O (World Health Organization), FDA, CDC & other major entities engage the media with an onslaught of false and misleading statements,” writes Mr. Crowley. He notes that to not counter misleading assumptions and lies can lead to smokers not converting to ecigs or vapers giving up having successfully quit.
Crowley references research carried out by Kellie Forbes, which reached over 7,000 global participants who took part in the 14-question survey. A third of those taking part originate from the USA with the rest representing nations from Argentina to Zimbabwe.
The survey uncovered that most of us are long-term ex-smokers, 83% having smoked for at least ten years or more, with the majority of vapers (over 60%) taking up the pastime within the last two years. 68% of us vape up-to-12mg liquids with the comments indicating that users are self-adjusting their intake down with a view to get to zero or enjoy cloud-chasing too much.
With 86% of replies claiming not to smoke it marks the study out. The current level of dual-fuellers, people who smoke and vape, runs to 80% of all vapers according the latest Smokers Toolkit Study (STS). Thus the study is focussed mainly on the efficacy of those who have used vaping to quit – and highlights that 75% of users managed to do just that within a month of taking up vaping.
It is slightly disconcerting that 1,087 of the respondents have bought into the Antz myth that vaping can act as a gateway to smoking. The aforementioned STS has demonstrated a continual fall of smoking rates against an increase in the take-up of vaping – which, when combined with the statistically insignificant rates of non-smokers beginning to vape, destroys any credibility of gateway arguments.
97% of replies indicate an improved level of health after adopting vaping in place of smoking. We support of a ban on sales to under 18s, would like more clarity on liquid quality control and feel self-regulation works. We believe that vaping works and will prevent us from ever smoking again. It is a great tale of positivity, responsibility and success – one that cries out to be shared.
Dorn concludes his piece with the clarion call: “So, everywhere you communicate, use the hashtag #Vaping2015 - become an advocate for ecigs, their use and their proliferation. Cling to the evidence, and disavow the dogma - ignore the ideology and promote rationality. For it is the science that will ultimately win over ideology, logic that will displace misinformation, and advocacy that will win over scaremongering.”
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.
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