ETHRA and partners write to the delegations of the European Parties to FCTC COP9

This is one of those crazy articles that make me enjoy working in harm reduction. The article announces UK’s decision to have medically approved e-cigarettes for those, who are interested in quitting smoking cigarettes. It is a fantastic validation of the power that this new technologies can have on improving and extending the health of people in our societies!

Ethan Nadelmann is a fantastically gifted public speaker who was worked in harm reduction for decades. While he used to work only in the field of illicit substances, he has now turned toward tobacco too. As part of expanding his knowledge horizon he came to realise that tobacco harm reduction is even more demonised than illicit substance harm reduction – I can see that! To me too, tobacco harm reduction used to automatically take my brain to some historic big tobacco evil office meetings and doctor bribing. So, if this may also be the way you think, this is the video for you – be prepared to blow your mind.

This piece is written by a past cigarette smoker and he has got quite the few words to say to his politicians about how he came to stop smoking. He highlights that not every smoker want to quit and when/if they do decide to move away from cigarettes he should have loads of safer options to choose from. He points out that as politicians limit vapes as they fear enticing new generations into using these product, the older generation of existing current smokers are told, “my way or highway”, in other words it is quit or die.

I chose to add this article to our collection here because I really enjoyed how Gerry Stimson connects alternative nicotine product use with our human rights. He argues that it is our right to enjoy the developments of technology and science and points out that all these vapes, e-cigarettes or snus’ etc. are products of this technological and scientific innovation. Which means that if we do acknowledge the importance of United Nation conventions then we have the right to access other safer nicotine delivery products than the traditional smokable cigarettes.

This article is a must read for anyone interested in a simple summary of the current state of cigarette use in the world and understanding what exactly is tobacco harm reduction. The article highlights the central element of harm reduction: “making the choice to improve their health” which is what we are also very much in support of! It is about giving smokers the choice to use more or less harmful products, rather than taking them all away and expecting the smokers to quit. Which brings up the second point for why I would recommend you read this particular article: they stigmatise stigmatisation – shaming and scolding does not inspire change and as such, there is no room for shaming current smokers for not quitting, instead it is all about giving choices and information to build on informed choices.

If you are serious about getting the whole picture on e-cigarettes then this is the paper for you. It is put together by UK medical experts who were gathered to review e-cigarettes. It bursts all the myths and fears that people have about e-cigarettes (bubble lung, hospital deaths etc. etc.) and suggests clear areas for improvement. If you do read this, please get in touch and tell me your thoughts!