December 23, 2023
by Pippa Starr
Key points:
-"The RANZCP supports the use of NVPs as a harm minimisation measure, to support those smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products to make changes or cease in their use of tobacco. This should be enacted through legalisation and regulation of e-cigarettes and vaporisers proportionate to their associated risks."
-"Smoking is the leading cause of the health gap between those with or without a mental health condition."
-"Current policies have a narrow focus on abstinence, which risks exacerbating health disparities between those with and without a mental health condition"
-"Tobacco harm reduction is an essential component of any framework that aims to improve health outcomes for people who smoke tobacco"
-"Nicotine vaping products are a safer alternative to tobacco smoking and offer a harm minimisation tool when first line pharmacotherapies and/or behavioural interventions have been unsuccessful"
-"The RANZCP recognises that NVPs reduce the harms associated with smoking tobacco and using other tobacco containing products.
Evidence suggests that long-term use of e-cigarettes is significantly less risky to an individual’s health than smoking regular cigarettes" .
I would like to personally congratulate the RANZP for their carefully measured position statement in the face of a current government that seems to be developing vaping legislation and regulations that not only exhibits denial but downright cruelty towards those effected by a mental health condition.
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