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E-cigarettes should be offered to smokers, say doctors | E-cigarettes should be offered to smokers, say doctors |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Smokers should be offered and encouraged to use e-cigarettes to help them quit, says a leading medical body. | Smokers should be offered and encouraged to use e-cigarettes to help them quit, says a leading medical body. |
The UK's Royal College of Physicians says there is resounding evidence that e-cigarettes are "much safer" than smoking and aid quitting. | |
With the right checks and measures, vaping could improve the lives of millions of people, it says in a new, 200-page report. | With the right checks and measures, vaping could improve the lives of millions of people, it says in a new, 200-page report. |
It says fears that e-cigarettes are a gateway to smoking are unfounded. | It says fears that e-cigarettes are a gateway to smoking are unfounded. |
But, by and large, people who want to use electronic cigarettes will still need to buy them rather than get them on the NHS. | But, by and large, people who want to use electronic cigarettes will still need to buy them rather than get them on the NHS. |
Do e-cigarettes make it harder to stop smoking? | |
Are e-cigarettes safe? | |
Should we switch from tobacco to e-cigarettes? | |
UK doctors can only prescribe e-cigarettes if they have been licensed as a "quit smoking aid" - something that requires strict regulation. | UK doctors can only prescribe e-cigarettes if they have been licensed as a "quit smoking aid" - something that requires strict regulation. |
Few manufacturers go down this route and instead sell products to satisfy users' desire for nicotine without the harmful chemicals produced by tobacco. | Few manufacturers go down this route and instead sell products to satisfy users' desire for nicotine without the harmful chemicals produced by tobacco. |
Best way to quit? | Best way to quit? |
Sales of e-cigarettes have been rising steadily since the first went on sale in 2007 in the UK. | Sales of e-cigarettes have been rising steadily since the first went on sale in 2007 in the UK. |
Since 2012, they have replaced nicotine patches and gum to become the most popular choice of smoking cessation aid in England. | Since 2012, they have replaced nicotine patches and gum to become the most popular choice of smoking cessation aid in England. |
Around one in 20 adults in England uses e-cigarettes, and nearly all of these are ex-smokers or current smokers who are trying to cut down or quit. | Around one in 20 adults in England uses e-cigarettes, and nearly all of these are ex-smokers or current smokers who are trying to cut down or quit. |
The Royal College of Physicians says smokers who use e-cigarettes or prescribed medications - with support from their doctor - are more likely to quit permanently. | The Royal College of Physicians says smokers who use e-cigarettes or prescribed medications - with support from their doctor - are more likely to quit permanently. |
1. On some e-cigarettes, inhalation activates the battery-powered atomiser. Other types are manually switched on | |
2. A heating coil inside the atomiser heats liquid nicotine contained in a cartridge | |
3. The mixture becomes vapour and is inhaled. Many e-cigarettes have an LED light as a cosmetic feature to simulate traditional cigarette glow. | |
Different brands of e-cigarettes contain different chemical concentrations. | |
And in terms of long-term health hazards, e-cigarettes are at least 95% safer than regular cigarettes - something Public Health England has also said. | And in terms of long-term health hazards, e-cigarettes are at least 95% safer than regular cigarettes - something Public Health England has also said. |
But that does not mean they are entirely risk-free. | But that does not mean they are entirely risk-free. |
Prof Simon Capewell, of the Faculty of Public Health, said there were still many unknown factors. | Prof Simon Capewell, of the Faculty of Public Health, said there were still many unknown factors. |
"We don't know enough yet about the long-term effects of vaping on people's health, which is why we need more research. | "We don't know enough yet about the long-term effects of vaping on people's health, which is why we need more research. |
"The best thing anyone can do if they want to quit smoking is talk to their GP: there's solid evidence that NHS quit-smoking services help people kick the habit for good." | "The best thing anyone can do if they want to quit smoking is talk to their GP: there's solid evidence that NHS quit-smoking services help people kick the habit for good." |
But Prof John Britton, who co-authored the RCP report, says e-cigarettes are extremely positive for public health and should be "encouraged and endorsed". | But Prof John Britton, who co-authored the RCP report, says e-cigarettes are extremely positive for public health and should be "encouraged and endorsed". |
He said: "The public need to be reassured this is not a new nicotine epidemic in the making. E-cigarettes have very little downside and a lot of potential benefit." | He said: "The public need to be reassured this is not a new nicotine epidemic in the making. E-cigarettes have very little downside and a lot of potential benefit." |
According to Public Health England, smokers should consider using e-cigarettes alongside NHS quit-smoking services. | According to Public Health England, smokers should consider using e-cigarettes alongside NHS quit-smoking services. |
Around a third of UK smokers try to quit each year, but only one in every six of those succeeds. | Around a third of UK smokers try to quit each year, but only one in every six of those succeeds. |
New EU laws are due to come into force in May that will set safety and quality standards for all e-cigarettes and refills. Manufacturers will be required to disclose the purity of their products to consumers. | New EU laws are due to come into force in May that will set safety and quality standards for all e-cigarettes and refills. Manufacturers will be required to disclose the purity of their products to consumers. |
Dr Tim Ballard, from the Royal College of GPs, said: "Moving forward we would be looking for clear evidence that making e-cigarettes available on prescription as part of a wider smoking cessation scheme is a wise use of both scant NHS funds and GP practice resources, before the College could get behind it. | Dr Tim Ballard, from the Royal College of GPs, said: "Moving forward we would be looking for clear evidence that making e-cigarettes available on prescription as part of a wider smoking cessation scheme is a wise use of both scant NHS funds and GP practice resources, before the College could get behind it. |
"It is not just the cost of the product that needs taking into account, but the time and resources that are involved in assessing patients, and monitoring their progress over a prolonged period of time. | "It is not just the cost of the product that needs taking into account, but the time and resources that are involved in assessing patients, and monitoring their progress over a prolonged period of time. |
"We reiterate our calls for NICE to take a leading role in establishing whether making e-cigarettes available on prescription is the best way forward." | "We reiterate our calls for NICE to take a leading role in establishing whether making e-cigarettes available on prescription is the best way forward." |
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "The best thing a smoker can do for their health is to quit smoking. | A Department of Health spokesperson said: "The best thing a smoker can do for their health is to quit smoking. |
"We know that there are now over a million people who have completely replaced smoking with e-cigarettes and that the evidence indicates that they are significantly less harmful to health than smoking tobacco. | "We know that there are now over a million people who have completely replaced smoking with e-cigarettes and that the evidence indicates that they are significantly less harmful to health than smoking tobacco. |
"We want to see a wide range of good quality e-cigarettes on the market including licensed products whose safety, quality and effectiveness are independently assured." | "We want to see a wide range of good quality e-cigarettes on the market including licensed products whose safety, quality and effectiveness are independently assured." |
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