The 40 experts in public health and environment of the High Council of Health publish this Thursday morning a new opinion on the electronic cigarette (e-cig).
It is an event because it deviates on many points from the one made just two years ago: the experts no longer ask that the electronic cigarette be sold only in pharmacies and that it respects the constraints of advertising for drugs. But they ask on the other hand that it be subject to restrictions related to the tobacco product, which also prohibit advertising ...« Normal that we have changed our opinion, 200 new studies have been released since then, it is logical that we take into account, in one way or the other. In particular, e-cigarettes should not be harder to find than tobacco »says one of the experts.
Initial "positive and encouraging" results
The experts, who doubted it two years ago, admit that « the e-cigarette with nicotine seems effective in helping quit smoking. We currently have little perspective but the first results are 
positive and encouraging and will need to be confirmed. The CSS therefore sees no reason to refuse the marketing authorization for e-cigarettes containing nicotine, provided that they are used as part of a policy to fight against smoking. ».
Experts warn, however: « if the smoker continues to smoke tobacco at the same time as the e-cigarette, in the long run it does not make much sense. Indeed, it is necessary to stop 85% of its consumption of tobacco to have a positive effect on chronic bronchitis (COPD) and it is necessary to stop smoking completely to have a positive effect on cardiovascular diseases. The e-cigarette, next to the many other forms of support available, must therefore be considered as a possible switch from smoking to stopping the latter completely. ».
Source : lesoir.be
