CAPHRA Calls Out Propaganda
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates is calling out the rampant misinformation on vaping as blatant propaganda
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by Dave Cross
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The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is calling out the rampant misinformation about tobacco harm reduction as blatant propaganda perpetuated by factions within the tobacco control community. These factions refuse to accept the proven role of reduced-risk products in helping people quit smoking, thereby undermining public health efforts.
Recent commentary and reports have highlighted a disturbing trend of disinformation about safer nicotine products.
“It is spread by those who are ideologically opposed to harm reduction strategies, despite mounting evidence that safer nicotine products (SNPs) can significantly reduce smoking rates and associated health risks,” said Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA.
"The quantity and depth of this campaign makes it clear that certain factions within the tobacco control community are more interested in maintaining their prohibitionist stance than in embracing evidence-based harm reduction strategies that can save lives."
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates says that studies have consistently shown that vaping and other SNPs are far less harmful than smoking combustible tobacco. Furthermore, countries that have adopted harm reduction strategies, such as the UK and New Zealand, have seen significant declines in smoking rates.
“The refusal to acknowledge the benefits of SNPs is not just misguided; it is dangerous. By spreading disinformation, these groups are effectively discouraging people who smoke from switching to less harmful alternatives, thereby perpetuating the smoking epidemic," continued Ms Loucas.
CAPHRA says that it is calling on governments and public health bodies to promote accurate information to ensure that public health messaging about SNPs is based on the best available scientific evidence and to embrace harm reduction strategies as a key component of tobacco control policies.
"We must move beyond the outdated 'quit or die' mentality and recognise that harm reduction is a vital tool in the fight against smoking-related diseases," Loucas concluded.
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates is a regional alliance of consumer tobacco harm reduction advocacy organisations. It says its mission is to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use.
The consumer organisation says it, “remains committed to advocating for the rights of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region to access and use evidence-based, regulated, and properly marketed harm reduction products as a means of reducing the devastating impact of smoking-related diseases.
“We encourage further research, open dialogue, and collaboration with governments, health organisations, and stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcomes for public health.”
References:
- Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) - https://caphraorg.net/
Photo Credit:
Photo by Emily Morter on Unsplash
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.
