Harm Reduction Is Working
New Zealand’s Tobacco Harm Reduction approach sees the country’s smoking rate plummet, says Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy
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by Dave Cross
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AVCA was formed in 2016 by vapers across New Zealand wanting their voices heard in local and central government. All members are former smokers who promote vaping to help smokers quit - a much less harmful alternative to combustible tobacco products. AVCA does not have any affiliation or vested interest in industry - tobacco, pharmaceutical and/or the local vaping manufacturing or retail sectors.
“New Zealand’s smoking rates are now half of what they were 10 years ago. In the past year alone the number of people smoking fell by 56,000. That is amazing when you consider the extra stress on people with the pandemic and increasing cost of living,” says Ms Loucas.
Also notably, the overall daily smoking rate for Māori is at a low of 19.9%, down from 22.3% in 2020/21. At the same time, 8.3% of all Kiwi adults are now vaping daily.
AVCA says the Government has done well making stop smoking services more accessible and introducing tailored Māori and Pacific services. A key component has been the development of the trusted Ministry of Health site www.vapingfacts.health.nz/
“Other countries have seen a rise in their smoking rates during the Covid lockdowns and restrictions, but New Zealand has once again bucked the trend. That’s because our Ministry of Health and health providers have adopted a THR strategy, transitioning smokers to vaping as a safe and incredibly effective smoking cessation tool,” continued Ms Loucas.
AVCA believes New Zealand could achieve Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 – where five percent or fewer Kiwis smoke regularly.
Another boost to the decade-long national goal will be The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill. Parliament’s health select committee is due to report back on it by 1 December.
Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall aims to have the smokefree legislation passed by the end of the year. It will decrease the number of retail outlets able to sell tobacco, reduce the appeal of cigarettes, and ensure the next generation are never sold tobacco.
Dr Verrall is a staunch advocate of adopting a THR approach to reduce deadly smoking. She recently said: “We need to continue supporting people who smoke tobacco to successfully switch to less harmful products…Smoking rates are plummeting. Our goal of being smoke-free by 2025 is within reach.”
“New Zealand is showing the world how to achieve smokefree. These latest statistics are more proof that countries which adopt a THR approach to public health end up saving a lot of lives,” concluded Nancy Loucas.
Photo Credit:
PHOTO BY SAYMOM LEÃO ON UNSPLASH, ROTATED AND RESIZED
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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