Vapers Be Like…
What are vapers like? The answer depends upon who is being asked.
-
by Dave Cross
Share on:
Shu-Hong Zhu is not a fan of electronic cigarette users, but then few “researchers” in California are. The team of three from the University of California produced a “brief report” for the Tobacco Control Journal, looking at “Use of electronic cigarettes in smoke-free environments”.
They write: “Although most US states prohibit cigarette smoking in public places and worksites, fewer jurisdictions regulate indoor use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Given the dramatic increase in e-cigarette use and concern about its impact on non-users, there is a need to examine the use of e-cigarettes in smoke-free environments and related attitudes and perceptions.”
They found that 59.5% of e-cigarette users had vaped where cigarette smoking was not allowed, leading Zhu to say: “If you leave it to the e-cigarette users to interpret, they don’t think the law covers them.”
Probably, although Zhu won’t say, this is mainly down to vapers not recognising vape as being “smoke”, so the smoke-free place remains smoke-free while someone is vaping. After mentioning the fib that vaping renormalises the act of smoking, he continued: “I would suspect that if young kids were exposed to a lot of second-hand vaping, there could be a serious impact on their brain, but we don’t really have model data on that yet.”
And vapers are the irresponsible ones?
We’re too clever to be negligent, according to the findings from Georgia State University. Doctor Michael Eriksen led a team that surveyed 1,200 users of cigarettes, ecigs or both.
Eriksen was previously involved in a study, released earlier this year, that claimed vaping equipment wasn’t up to the job of providing a reasonable alternative to traditional smoking. According to Georgia State: “The authors concluded that compared to cigarette smokers, dual users who are more educated, and have a degree are more likely to ‘intend’ to quit smoking. Researchers found that those who did not have a college degree were less likely to use ENDS in addition to smoking regular cigarettes.”
Of course, they can’t allow vapers to think they are intelligent and that vaping worked for them – so they trotted out a couple of anecdotes from people claiming to have failed with vaping. “I used to have one [e-cigarette] and you can get as much nicotine as you want, however, I don’t think that it’s a way for me to quit,” Anthony Brown said, Georgia State student and supposed expert witness. “I just wanted to smoke a normal cigarette when I smoked e-cigs.”
Dr. Eriksen said it is important to understand “if e-cigarettes are truly useful tools for helping people to quit smoking.” Maybe he should listen to us? After all, his research says we’re intelligent.
Photo Credit:
Images
Vaper – Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8669/16348997445_9e7673b079_b.jpg
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.
Join the discussion
Parliament Fears Two
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs faced questions from a Conservative MP and, oddly, a member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
-
by Dave Cross
Harm Reduction For The Rich
The United Kingdom risks becoming a harm reduction country only for the wealthy, according to Michael Landl of the World Vapers’ Alliance
-
by Dave Cross
Sacrificing Health For 2p Cut
Tory Government alienates vaping voters with its mission to cut tax by an unaffordable 2p to attract voters by placing a tax on vape products in the forthcoming budget
-
by Dave Cross
Scotland Announces Single-Use Vape Action
A ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland is due to come into effect on 1 April 2025, under proposed legislation published today
-
by Dave Cross
