Experts Dispute Gateway Claim
Leading harm reduction experts have disputed claim that vaping is a gateway to smoking following malicious claims to the contrary from Otago University in New Zealand
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by Dave Cross
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Dr Roberto Sussman is a lecturer at the Institute for Nuclear Sciences of the National University of Mexico and the founder of Pro-Vapeo Mexico. He said: "There is no evidence that vaping is a gateway to smoking. In fact, studies have shown that vaping can be an effective tool for smoking cessation."
Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos is a name known to many long-term vapers. The physician also works as a senior researcher at the University of Patras and the School of Public Health-University of West Attica in Greece, he added: "The vast majority of vapers are former smokers who have successfully quit smoking thanks to vaping."
Gerry Stimson, a public health expert and advocate for harm reduction, emphasised: "Harm reduction strategies like vaping are essential in reducing the negative health impacts of smoking. We need to focus on providing smokers with safer alternatives to cigarettes, rather than demonizing harm reduction strategies like vaping."
Roberto Sussman noted: "We need to focus on harm reduction strategies that work, rather than relying on outdated and inaccurate claims about vaping being a gateway to smoking." Dr Farsalinos continued: "The evidence is clear: vaping can be an effective tool for smoking cessation and harm reduction."
Nancy Loucas, the Executive Coordinator of the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) also disputed the recent claim by Otago University that vaping is a gateway to smoking. In her view, the recent claim by Otago University is not supported by the evidence and could discourage smokers from trying vaping as a tool for smoking cessation.
According to recent data, the smoking incidence rates in New Zealand have fallen significantly over the past 5 to 10 years. The current smoking rate of New Zealand adults is 8% in 2021/2022, which has decreased from 16.5% in 2015 and from 27% in both men and women in 1993. Vaping has played a significant role in the reduction of smoking rates in New Zealand over the past 5 to 10 years. According to research published in the NZ Medical Journal, the current vaping rate in New Zealand is 8.3% of adults being categorised as daily e-cigarette users, up from 6.2% in the previous year.
"We need to focus on harm reduction strategies that work, rather than relying on outdated and inaccurate claims about vaping being a gateway to smoking. The evidence is clear: vaping can be an effective tool for smoking cessation and harm reduction," Ms Loucas concluded.
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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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