Vape, the answer to stop smoking
DESPITE the numerous research papers published on the detrimental side effects of vaping, I
want to make a counter-argument saying that it might be the solution to the smoking habit
that we have all longed for.
Medical researchers have warned the public on the health risks of smoking tobacco since the
20th century and it will continue to be a problem for the foreseeable future.
Health ministries across the world are caught up in the pursuit of reducing the amount of
smokers through non-smoking campaigns, educational programmes, taxes, regulations, and
governmental policies.
Not only are these solutions expensive for taxpayers but they are relatively ineffective as well
in terms of return on investments. Despite many governments’ best efforts, there is no single
country on Earth that has a 0% smoking population.
The country with the lowest smoking rate is Dominica, and that is because it is a tiny island
in the middle of the ocean with a population of less than 75,000. Even then, 8.4% of the
population still smokes.
Our government has heavily imposed taxes on tobacco products; in fact, the same pack of
cigarettes here in Malaysia costs more than twice that from many of our Southeast Asian
partners (three times the amount in the case of Indonesia).
Yet not only is our smoking rate still relatively high, it has only spurred the growth of the
illicit cigarette trade instead.
The fight to reduce the number of smokers is an uphill battle - a fight that most health
ministries are participating in.
But rather than increasing efforts to reduce cigarette consumption, why not ask a slightly
different question instead: How can we make tobacco - or rather, nicotine - healthier for
consumers? Main ideas
To dispel a common myth, nicotine on its own is not chemically cancer-causing or
excessively harmful.
It is the combustion of cigarettes, which produces tar and a variety of other chemicals, that
are significantly more harmful to the human body.
The primary concern is that, by itself, nicotine is highly addictive to users, which can form
nicotine reliance and habitual dependency.
It is that nicotine dependency that pushes many smokers to resist many governmental
initiatives to reduce smoking.
That is why you get smokers banding together to file for an appeal to the government to
resume their rights to smoking at eateries. So why work against the resistance, when you can
use it to your advantage instead?
So how does vaping come into the picture? First of all, some studies show that vaping is
already relatively healthier than conventional smoking. – main ideas
Vaping devices have a vast potential to further reduce the harm and health risks of vaping
through product innovations.- supporting details
Vaping has been proven to help many smokers quit smoking. But most of all, existing
smokers are much more receptive towards vaping products as a rehabilitation tool, compared
to any smoking restriction imposed by the government thus far.-supporting details
I foresee these vaping devices becoming a primary smoking rehabilitation tool in the near
future. – main ideas
These devices can introduce unique features such as a puff limiter (which automatically shuts
down the device after a certain amount of use) or install smaller battery capacities (which
force users to charge it more often per use).-Supporting details
From a government’s point of view, regulating a handful of vaping companies is also
significantly easier compared to running nationwide campaigns which may or may not be
proven effective.-supporting details
While US regulators are taking the hard line against vaping and e-cigarettes - deeming it as a
worse alternative to conventional smoking, and have actively conducted programmes that
discourage vaping consumption - UK researchers, by contrast, are looking for nuggets of
opportunities within these new products.
Public Health England has revealed that e-cigarettes could be 95% healthier than tobacco.-
supporting details(proof)
The UK’s Royal College of Physicians also showed that e-cigarettes carried only about 5% of
the risks of smoking.- supporting details(proof)
As a disclaimer, the results from these UK studies are not very conclusive, and there are some
methodology issues within the studies. supporting details(proof)
The collection of accurate data and the understanding of health risks from vaping and e-
cigarettes can only manifest itself after decades of research.- supporting details(proof)
Still, it is highly commendable that such substantial research is being conducted in the first
place, It marks a step in the right direction for the future of vaping products.- supporting
details
I implore the Malaysian government to welcome these changes, and to play a role in nudging
vaping products in the right direction as well.- supporting details
In fact, a recent CNET article states that better tech innovation is able to prevent another
vaping illness outbreak.
A US company is implementing cannabis tracking solutions in order to stifle attempts at
tampering vaping products with cannabis oil.
While private companies and startups are pushing for better product innovation and
implementation, news is circulating that the Malaysian government is considering a blanket
ban on these products, shutting all doors to potential innovation.
There is nothing wrong with imposing strict regulations with regards to the advertising and
distribution of these vaping products.- supporting details
It is logical to control a product that you do not fully understand. However, new vaping
products are being released every month that are better than ever. Private companies are
moving too fast, while the government is sitting and waiting on the sidelines.- supporting
details
Is it really that difficult to create a regulatory sandbox for vaping devices and similar
products? Is it not possible to provide incentives for small companies to conduct rigorous
testing and experimentation in order to produce better-vaping products?
Don't smokers have the right to pick a healthier alternative to cigarettes, especially when such
an opportunity currently already exists worldwide, handed over on a silver platter
nonetheless?
When I picture the distant future of Malaysia, I see self-driving cars, Mars colonisation, and
widespread adoption of advanced technologies as the ASEAN tiger.
But, I also foresee nicotine addicts peddling illegal cigarettes at a dark street corner, puffing
their lives away, instead of using a vape pen which, by that point, is mostly harmless.
With the way our policies are headed, that will most likely be the outcome.
