Vaping #1 in Wales
Vaping is now the number one quit smoking method in Wales according to the latest data published by Welsh Government
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by Dave Cross
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The Welsh government says, “Tobacco is the leading single cause of premature death in Wales and a major contributor to health inequalities.” The Tobacco Control Action Plan for Wales set out a vision of a smoke-free society for Wales in 2012 and stated an aim of reducing adult smoking levels to 16% by 2020.
This optimistic target initially looked difficult to achieve due to opposition to vaping from Mark Drakeford, the Minister for Health and Social Services from 2013 to 2016, but he was defeated in his efforts to restrict vaping and his argument about a gateway effect was roundly debunked.
Latest figures show that vaping has helped to reduce the current level of smoking to 17% of the population. Further knocking Drakeford’s initial claims that vaping would encourage teens to smoker, the report notes: “Those aged 16-24 were most likely to have never smoked.”
- In 2018-19, 6% of adults reported currently using e-cigarettes (this equates to approximately 150,000 adults). 17% had ever tried them. There was little change since 2016-17
- The most common reason for using e-cigarettes among current users was to help stop smoking tobacco (76%); other common reasons were because they were perceived to be less harmful than tobacco (36%), because they were perceived to be cheaper than tobacco (34%), and to reduce tobacco used (31%)
Rather than “renormalizing” smoking, just 1% of users had never smoked; 50% of e-cigarettes users were smokers, and 49% were ex-smokers.
Mark Drakeford has gone on to become the First Minister for Wales. He is yet to make comment on the latest figures.
Suzanne Cass of ASH Wales said: “Over 5,000 people in Wales are dying every year from a tobacco related illness and e-cigarettes are proving to be a vital weapon in our armoury against this deadly addiction.”
“Research has shown e-cigarettes are the most effective stop smoking tool available when combined with behavioural support. We would advise all smokers to seek help and quit in whichever way suits them best. The fact that so many Welsh smokers are switching from tobacco to vaping, proves just how popular this quit smoking tool is and what an opportunity there is to reach the remaining 30% of smokers that have yet to give it a try.”
Related:
- “National Survey for Wales 2018-19: Adult smoking and e-cigarette use” – [link]
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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