Inspired by the United Kingdom’s groundbreaking
initiative to provide free vape starter kits to smokers,
leading harm reduction researcher Dr Marewa Glover calls on
the New Zealand government to adopt a similar policy in the
fight against smoking-related harm.
A recent BBC
article (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65235343)
highlighted the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) program,
which aims to provide smokers with the necessary tools to
quit smoking through vaping. As a consumer harm reduction
expert, Dr Glover believes that offering free vape kits to
New Zealanders is a crucial step towards reducing the
smoking rate and improving public health.
“Vaping
has been widely recognised as a safer alternative to
smoking, with Public Health England estimating that it is
95% less harmful. The UK’s free vape policy, which will be
piloted in some regions, demonstrates a commitment to
helping smokers quit and reducing the strain on healthcare
services caused by smoking-related diseases,” said Dr
Glover.
“New Zealand has set ambitious goals to
become a smoke-free nation by 2025 and adopting a similar
free vape policy would align with these objectives and
provide an effective way to support smokers in their journey
towards quitting,” said Dr Glover, who added that “The
New Zealand government has an opportunity to take a
proactive approach in addressing the nation’s smoking
epidemic by leveraging vaping as a harm reduction
tool.”
“As a nation, we must acknowledge the
potential vaping holds to reduce the harmful effects of
smoking on our population. A free vape policy in New Zealand
would not only provide tangible support for smokers trying
to quit but also pave the way for future harm reduction
strategies,” said Dr Glover.
Dr Glover urges the New
Zealand government to explore the benefits of implementing a
free vape policy and to consider adopting a similar program
to help reach the country’s smoke-free 2025
goal.
Background Notes /
Disclosures:
- Dr Glover
is one of New Zealand’s leading tobacco control
researchers. She has worked on reducing smoking-related harm
for 30 years. She is recognized internationally for her
advocacy on tobacco harm reduction; and locally was a
Finalist in the New Zealander of the Year Supreme Award in
2019 recognising her contribution to reducing smoking in NZ.
Dr Glover has chaired numerous committees and organizations
including End Smoking NZ, an independent NGO that lobbied
for a harm reduction approach even before electronic
cigarettes were introduced. Dr Glover is the most prominent
public commentator on vaping in NZ. She is regularly called
by the media and has appeared on NZ’s 60 Minutes in
addition to participating in live online and conference
debates about vaping. In 2018 Dr Glover established the
Centre of Research Excellence: Indigenous Sovereignty &
Smoking. - Centre of Research Excellence:
Indigenous Sovereignty and Smoking is an
international programme of research aimed at reducing
tobacco related harms among Indigenous peoples globally. www.coreiss.com - The
Centre of Research Excellence: Indigenous Sovereignty and
Smoking (the Centre) was established in June 2018. The
funding for the Centre’s program of work was obtained
following submission of a researcher-initiated application
for a funding grant from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free
World, Inc. (“FSFW”), a US non-profit 501(c)(3) private
foundation. The work of the Centre, under the terms of the
grant agreement with FSFW, is editorially independent of
FSFW. The contents, selection and presentation of facts, as
well as any opinions expressed herein, are the sole
responsibility of the author and under no circumstances
should they be regarded as reflecting the positions of FSFW.
A full conflict of interest disclosure statement is
available online at https://coreiss.com/disclaimer - A
full copy of Dr Glover’s Submission on The Smokefree
Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco)
Amendment Bill is here: https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/53SCHE_EVI_125245_HE26185/872ef24317bd1429ff0bde73f05020dcc64de9c7
© Scoop Media
Discussion about this post