MOBILIZATION: Dr. Presles appeals to all health professionals

In order to mobilize in the defense of the electronic cigarette, Dr. Philippe Presles of the Scientific Committee SOS addictions calls on all health professionals.

« Dear friends and confreres,

I come to you because you support the electronic cigarette to help smokers quit smoking.

And I come to you to ask you to mobilize once again to affirm your support.

Why?

Thanks for taking 2 minutes to read these few lines:

In August the British government published a report from Public Health England (HAS equivalent) in which it found that e-cigarettes had become the main smoking cessation device in Britain. Based on this observation and that of its near-harmlessness for smokers and non-smokers, this report recommends the promotion of the e-cigarette to the general public and the medical profession to develop its use. This e-cigarette risk reduction strategy, combined with a policy of high tobacco prices, is succeeding in the United Kingdom, where the adult smoking population is falling below 18%.

This is the preface of Pr Duncan Selbie, Director of Public Health England:
“Many people think the risks of e-cigarettes are the same as smoking tobacco and this report clarifies the truth of this.
In a nutshell, best estimates show e-cigarettes are less likely than normal cigarettes, and when supported by a smoking cessation service, they are more likely to quit tobacco altogether. (Summary report and full report below)

At the beginning of November, the French government is preparing to do the exact opposite by banning the promotion of the electronic cigarette and banning its use in public places. The damage of this policy anti-e-cigarette, already at work in the official speeches, are already visible: the sales of the tobacco are distributed again in France, after 3 years of fall incontestably related to the rise of the e -cigarette. Remember that in France a third of the adult population smokes, and that tobacco kills 78.000 people each year.

One figure illustrates the difference between the two political views: in France 2 / 3 smokers think that the e-cigarette is more dangerous than tobacco, against 1 / 3 in Britain.

By mobilizing before the end of October, we still have the opportunity to make our voice heard for a real risk reduction policy in France.

And this fight is global because it will influence other countries in search of solutions to fight against tobacco.

What I propose is simple:

1. Approve together the findings of the 19 Public Health England August 2015 report on the e-cigarette.

2. Ask that the French government also practice a real policy of reducing the risks of smoking, based on the full potential of the electronic cigarette.

This call is intended to be signed by many French and foreign specialists.

Thanks a lot for your help! »

Sincerely,

Dr. Philippe Presles
Scientific Committee SOS addictions

Here is the English report :
Reading the short version of the report in 6 pages is very clear:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/454517/Ecigarettes_a_firm_foundation_for_evidence_based_policy_and_practice.pdf

Long version : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/e-cigarettes-an-evidence-update