Fresh North East calling on Government to give correct information on vapes
The research from ASH found that 10% of adults vape and 7% are children
North East tobacco control programme, Fresh, is calling on the Government to ensure that people are given the correct information on vaping if they are using it as a quitting aid.
It comes as new data has been released by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), which shows that the estimated overall proportion of people who vape in Great Britain has stalled in the last year.
The research from ASH found that 10% of adults vape. Meanwhile 7% of 11–17-year-olds currently vape.
In the North East, over half of adults surveyed (57%) believe that vapes are either just as harmful or more harmful than tobacco cigarettes. This is despite tobacco smoking being the leading preventable cause of death and ill-health in the North East – killing up to two in three long term smokers.
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Fresh and Balance Director, commented: “There are too many misperceptions around vaping and it’s vital that people are given the correct information if they use vaping to quit smoking.
“No one wants children to start vaping and that’s why we support the measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to reduce access to young people. However, the issue of children vaping shouldn’t be confused with adults who use vaping to help them stop smoking.
“The message to people who smoke is clear – nicotine vaping poses a fraction of the risks of lethal tobacco smoking. While not totally risk free, vaping is an effective way to support people who smoke to stop. It is crucial that we give smokers every chance to quit and switch away from the biggest cause of cancer and preventable disease.
“This is part of creating a smokefree future for the UK while doing what we can to reduce the appeal of vaping to children.”
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is still awaiting committee stage in the House of Lords (with the second reading on 23rd April). Fresh say they share national concerns that the slow passage of legislation is harming both children and adult smokers, with young people at continued risk from vape marketing and adult smokers less likely to know that vaping is less harmful than smoking.
To reinforce the North East’s vision and commitment to a smokefree future, Fresh with support from local authorities and the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, has launched the Declaration for a Smokefree Future – a commitment to end the death and disease of tobacco.