Back in November of 2021 the UK government announced it had started the ball rolling on legislation that would allow the NHS to begin prescribing vape products to anyone struggling to quit smoking. It might not seem like a big deal at first. But this is a massive victory for the vaping community globally! It clearly sends the message that the UK government, equipped with some of the most advanced science and clinical data in the world. Believes vaping is a safe and effective way of helping smokers quit. Something many countries around the world are sadly not ready to admit, even if it costs lives.
New guidance drafted up by the medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency (MHRA) means that soon vapes, or E-cigarettes, will be freely available on NHS prescription. This comes of the back of the UK government being presented with expert scientific reviews that estimate vaping products, whilst not completely risk-free (what is?), is up to “95% safer” than the inhalation of burnt tobacco.
Vaping has been designated as a safer alternative than smoking primarily because: whilst, the vape liquid is still heated up and inhaled it does not contain the harmful carbon monoxide and tar produced by burning tobacco. And whilst vape products do often contain nicotine which is highly addictive. There is growing evidence that the health risks from vaping nicotine are minimal compared to the risks from smoking tobacco. Vaping also gives you the option to gradually reduce the amount of nicotine you consume by offering different nicotine strength E-liquids. Something, not possible with cigarettes.
This point has been made repeatedly by experts for years but only recently has the government taken notice. As Prof Linda Bauld, the Bruce and John Usher chair in public health at the University of Edinburgh, has said the development is “excellent news” adding that:
“Smokers have concerns about safety and misperceptions about the relative risks of e-cigarettes compared with tobacco. For some, cost is also perceived as a barrier. The option of having approved devices that could be prescribed would reassure smokers about relative risks and also assist in reaching those least able to afford e-cigarettes.”
Only last year almost 64,000 people died due to smoking related ill-health. The truly shocking bit is that these deaths happen almost 3x more often in poorer areas than they do in high income areas. Exposing the stark contrast between smoking related health outcomes in the population. Just imagine how many lives could have been saved if vape products where easily available to anyone that had an addiction they just couldn’t shake off.
This is why the UK has decided to get vapes into the hands of those that would benefit from them but might be put of by the thought of the price of this possibly life saving alternative. The health and social care secretary Sajid Javid had this to say:
“Opening the door to a licensed e-cigarette prescribed on the NHS has the potential to tackle the stark disparities in smoking rates across the country, helping people stop smoking wherever they live and whatever their background”
This positions the UK as the one of the most vape friendly countries in the world. With some countries banning vaping out right and the WHO even being notoriously anti-vaping. The WHO for instance is well known for their opposition to vaping and whilst their heart is in the right place, they can occasionally miss the mark in practise. Their official stance is one of no compromise. They believe smokers should just quit with little or no consideration for the immense challenge this can be. They also often mistake the harms of smoking tobacco with the addictiveness of nicotine. Falsely believing that because vape liquids contain nicotine, they are of equal danger to smoking tobacco. Something the UK has now flatly denied.
