In this month of November, ANPAA (National Association for the Prevention of Alcohol and Addiction) wanted to give its position on vaping through a press release that we are offering you here.
While vaping is the subject of intense debate within the scientific community, ANPAA takes advantage of Moi (s) sans tabac to clarify its position: vaping is a tool to help quit smoking, but its use and its advertising must be supervised.
During the first half of 2017, internal discussions at ANPAA were organized throughout France on the use of electronic cigarettes. This question indeed divides the world of health with, on the one hand, uncertainties as to its long-term effects and, on the other hand, a global health catastrophe linked to tobacco consumption (6 million deaths per year due according to the WHO). Bringing together professionals, elected officials and volunteers, these debates allowed a common position to emerge, taking into account the latest scientific knowledge as well as the practices observed in the field.
For ANPAA:
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The electronic cigarette may constitute, for the purpose of stopping smoking, a alternative tool among other existing devices. Vaping is in fact far from being the only tool to help quitting, and its use remains marginal: daily electronic cigarette users represent only 2,9% of the general population (1,2 and 1,5 million people for 13 million daily smokers).
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More needs to be communicated about the objective, namely a total cessation of smoking. Indeed, the effects of tobacco are linked more to the duration of exposure, that is to say to the number of years of smoking, than to the number of cigarettes smoked. However, at present, the concomitant consumption of tobacco and electronic cigarettes predominates: 75% of electronic cigarette users are regular smokers.
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In order to do not lead to a "renormalization" of the act of smoking, vaping must be prohibited in public places, advertising must be prohibited and the presence of the tobacco industry in this field must be regulated. Access to minors must be possible for those already addicted to tobacco.
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It is necessary to continue scientific studies to clarify the benefit / risk ratio vaping, without deferring its use.
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The e-cigarette vendors, like care professionals, need to be trained about the use of this tool.
Source : Anpaa.asso.fr/
