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A REPORT BY Hiqa has acknowledged e-cigarettes’ “success” in helping people quit smoking, but says that further study is needed into their clinical and cost-effectiveness.
The assessment comes as Hiqa begin a public consultation, calling for submissions about how to advise those who wish to give up smoking.
Approximately 20.5% of deaths each year can be attributed to smoking, including deaths due to second-hand smoke.
Hiqa’s Director of Health Technology Assessment Dr Máirín Ryan said that their analysis examines the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of all smoking cessation interventions available in Ireland that can be used to help smokers quit for good.
There has been a stand-off of sorts between anti-smoking group ASH Ireland, and vaping businesses and advocates over the safety of e-cigarettes, with skeptics saying that they haven’t been around long enough to warrant recommendation.
On the other hand, various reports and studies show their popularity amongst the public in quitting smoking, as it allows you to minimise the dosage of nicotine that helps wean you off the addictive substance.
Now with Hiqa’s cautious backing, it looks as though Ireland will move closer towards recommending e-cigarettes to those who wish to quit smoking – pending further studies to prove their success further.
Máirín Ryan said that although the report found ”a high level of uncertainty surrounding both the clinical and cost-effectiveness of e-cigarettes”, there was a link between vaping and an increase in the number of people who successfully quit smoking.
“While the long-term effects of using e-cigarettes have not yet been established, data from Healthy Ireland reveals that 29% of smokers currently use e-cigarettes as an aid to quitting smoking.
“Hiqa’s analysis shows that increased uptake of e-cigarettes as an aid to quitting would increase the number of people who successfully quit compared with the existing situation in Ireland and would be cost-effective, provided that the currently available evidence on their effectiveness is confirmed by further studies.”
However ASH Ireland chairman Dr Patrick Doorley says that gum and nicotine patches should be the preferred way people refrain from smoking, as they have been proven safe over a long period of time.
Many smokers say e-cigs have helped them quit smoking and there are early indications that e-cigs are safer than smoking. However, there are no studies into the longer-term effects of vaping.
Although he admits that the HIQA report suggests e-cigs could have a role in smoking cessation, he says that the ‘standard nicotine replacement therapies’ – ie, gum and patches – “remain the most effective way to quit smoking”.
He added that they would be recommending to Hiqa to continue to regulate the entire vaping industry, and also urge that further research is conducted into the potential long-term effect of vaping.
Gillian Golden of the Irish Vape Vendors Association, says that she hoped the report would lessen the level of misinformation in the medical, media and political discourse.
One of the headline takeaways from the report is their acknowledgement of the fact that providing inaccurate information on the comparative risks is unethical as it fails to allow people to make informed choices.
The prevalence of smoking in Ireland is 22.7% in people aged 15 years and over. The prevalence is higher in men (24.3%) than women (21.2%), but has been in decline since 2008.
A public consultation seeking feedback on this report is open until 3 February 2017. Following this, a final report will be prepared for consideration by the HIQA Board, before being submitted to the Minister for Health and the HSE.
To see the report or to take part in the consultation, click here.
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I have tried everything and failed to quit. Then I found vaping and I haven’t touched a cigarette in 2 years. They worked for me and feel much better. Because of vaping I can now be confident in saying I could never see myself going back. I could not say that on other method’s.
@Alan.V:
I’m exactly the same as you. Now 3 years off the dreaded smokes. Feel like a young man again (don’t look like one tho)
I agree 100%. Couldn’t go near another cigarette now.
RTE News : people that smoke are twice as likely to give up smoking when using the e cig, would be more like 100 times more likely to give up smoking tobacco, 40 years smoking, 2 years off the cigarettes last November, since going on to e cig, after trying a number of times, the longest 12 months, now over 2 years off with little or no effort with the e cig …..
@Alan.V: Agreed. They’re a brilliant invention. I’ve been smoking constantly since I was 13. Off the cigs for a month now and doubt I’ll ever smoke again.
Well done Oisìn keep it up. Off them myself since June. Went from a pen to a mod after 3 weeks it’s a great feeling to be off the smokes
@Brendan Hughes: Cheers mate, same to you. Yeah it’s brilliant to be off them.
35 years a smoker… nearly 4 years a vaper and heading out for another 5k run tonight… something impossible 4 years ago.
Why would anyone red thumb this post? Well done , Shay!
My understanding is that vaping is not entirely healthy but is vastly less unhealthy than smoking.
Oddly enough, nicotine on its own is not unhealthy and can be a cognitive stimulant.
Better vaping than smoking.
What ash and the other never smoked zealots fail to realise is that smoking is so bad health wise that vaping as a substitute for cigarettes in the short term is far superior to gum and patches which are a small step above useless. Why don’t they ask ex smokers like me and lots of now ex smokers who quit, after years 30in my case thanks to vaping like the BMW in the UK did. Self righteous puckers
They don’t ask you because you are not a ‘never smoked zealot’ who is stuck up your own arse and getting funding to promote a pharmaceutical product. Feel free to correct me if I’m mistaken.
I had tests done when I smoked (2 years ago). Chest x-rays, o2 levels, the works, and all came back very poor. Had the same tests done a few weeks back (vaping 2 years) and not a thing wrong. Doctor still wouldn’t stand over the results though and said I should also stop vaping, but she did say the results were remarkable.
I stopped smoking recently using Allen Carr’s book. While I agree that vaping is obviously better than smoking, surely no substitute at all is the clear way to go. You’re just changing your nicotine addiction to a healthier one. Still costs money etc. I’m not one to preach after smoking for 20 years, though, so to each their own.
3 years off the cigarettes but am now addicted to e cigs
Thanks to e cigs i have no addiction, no joke, i dont miss tobacco i stuck with the e cigs for four months only used when drinking and remember one night tossing it away and that was it.
I’ve used these to help quit smoking, and I really do find they help, its not the same but its the closest substitute you can find. The only danger is, I can smoke it inside as it doesnt produce any smell or lingering smoke, I find without realising in an evening I could have smoked about 30 or more cigs worth, I dont understand the ill effects of these e cigs but that cant be good. I mean the e cig produces vapor through heating whatever liquid (and chemicals) are in the container, so it must produce some carcinogenic effects too.
The big danger is that a large number of kids are using e cigs as its becoming a pop culture item, rather than a medical device.
@Karl Bauer:
It has become very hip.
I was having a coffee in the square recently and there was a group of teenage hipster dudes in porkpie hats and beanies nearby surrounded by a dense cloud of white smoke. For a moment I thought they had a smoke machine under the table then realised they were vaping.
One guy was really giving it large with plumes of smoke simultaneously coming out of his nostrils, mouth and ears.
Like an angry bull on a frosty morning.
@Alex Falcone: Absolutely, they may not contain nicotine but the rest of the potential health risks are still there.
@Karl Bauer:
Think you have that upside down Karl.
There is a nicotine, quite a large amount actually, but carbon monoxide, tar and other carcinogens are absent.
@Alex Falcone: No nicotine in most of them, you can purchase (or make your own) E Liquid with our without nicotine, the majority of people involved in the fad side of this would be using liquid without nicotine.
@Karl Bauer:
I’ve switched to vaping having smoked rollies for years. The nicotine craving hasn’t been an issue as the vaping satisfies that which for me is the remarkable aspect of it.
@Karl Bauer:
But I take your point and if the kids are using a nicotine free vapour then that’s good news.
@Alex Falcone: Same here, unfortunately the nicotine was an issue for me, but like you the vaping satisfies the craving and the physical habit too. And I don’t stink of smoke all the time which is another obvious bonus.
@Karl Bauer:
Heating does not cause carcinogens, it is the action of actually burning the tobacco that creates the majority of the dangerous chemicals.
Great documentary from BBC Horizon worth looking at it’s called e-cigarettes miracle or menace.
@Karl Bauer: Actually the number of kids using ecigs is low, about 1 to 2%. No cause for worry. The other thing is ecigs are NOT medical devices, probslly what makes them acceptable to current smokers.
Karl I would have questions over your knowledge of vaping given some of your statements.
Brendan, if you question is how much does he know the answer would be, sweet fa
I don’t believe this comment. You clearly know nothing about vaping.
That was for Karl B.
I always get a chuckle on the amount of smoke plume it gives off ….but glad it’s working!
I think the amount of ads in shopping centres etc for vaping is excessive. There’s definitely a “hip” lifestyle element being pushed. The problem is that we don’t have enough evidence yet of how long term use of e cigarettes leads to nicotine addiction, or whether non nicotine vaping leads to nicotine vaping or on to smoking “real” cigarettes.
It’s safer to ban ads for e cigarettes as well, surely? And to ban vaping in pubs and restaurants?
@Mad Mike: Why would one ban vaping in public. It poses no health risks to those who aren’t vaping. There’s even a number of studies, that have recently been published, which have found that dangers associated with second hand tobacco smoke are grossly exaggerated.
What about all the teenagers who are now addicted to nicotine because of taking the drug via vaping? Kids that would have probably not taken to tobacco
@John Mullan: Most kids/teens vaping do so with nicotine free liquid.
@John Mullan: Probably, not a very good word to use in an argument.
How do you know most kids buy nicotine free liquid?
@Mad Mike: My brother is in his teens and many of his friends use vaporisers with nicotine free liquid, so its only a presumption.
@John Mullan:What about them? Who are they? What evidence do you have for this claim? None! Thought so.
@John Mullan: You have to be 18 to buy vape juice that contains nicotine.
@John Mullan:
Make your own ejuice, goto boots chemist and buy Glycerine, pure VG, add few drops of nicotine-free flavour. you’ll be chasing clouds like paranoid facebook chemtrailers :D
Smoked for 15 years and gave up cold turkey. So so difficult at the time but I proud to say I’m fully off them 4 years . Have to say I can’t understand people who don’t have the willpower to give up– the sheer damage they are doing on your health should be motivation enough.
People who think vaping is safe is madness. No way inhaling chemically manufactured substances can’t be good and the amount people inhale of this stuff a day is crazy.
For people who don’t have the willpower to give up there are a lesser evil to smoking but by no means a healthy option.
@Brian: people who think vaping is ” safe” need to define what they mean, I’m happy to say vaping is safe enough as both Public health England and the RCP say its about the same as caffeine based on what we know now.
@Brian: It’s the lessor of two evil by quite a massive margin. It’s a case of Nicotine + ~4000 additional chemicals, many of them known carcinogens as defined by the WHO such as Benzo(a)pyrene Vs. Nicotine+glycerin or propylene glycol+flavouring+water. It’s no contest, they’re infinitely better for your health than smoking cigarettes.
Of course not vaping or smoking would be the ideal, as nicotine itself has negative health consequences for the body. However, given the fact that nicotine is widely regarded as the most addictive substance known to man, vaping is a pretty good alternative to inhaling cigarette smoke.
Horizon did a documentary last year about vaping: https://youtu.be/2U-MjMdQJc0 Summary: Vaping is inhaling steam which is flavored with already tested and safe food flavorings. Some flavors such as menthol may irritate the lining of the lungs slightly, sweet flavors don’t, but all are infinitely better than smoking tobacco.
Good to hear, but these people are *still* smokers. A lot of these vape companies are owned by the big tobacco crowd, and it’s still a nuisance to those of us who’ve never smoked a cigarette. Best thing to do is just give up nicotine altogether.
@Darren Bates:
Vapers are not smokers, none of the harmful chemicals of smoking, no smoke, no danger of secondhand smoke. So why are they a nuisance?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huvPuCYoBGs
Whats a shame is that government are starting to interfere in unnecessary ways, increasing the cost etc.
Go away Darren Bates and read a little into it before you utter your rubbish. The Taibach companies do not own a lot of the vaping manufacturers. Why would they be trying to shut it down if they did. Clown.
@Darren Bates: Could you outline how exactly you’re put out by people that vape. If giving up nicotine was so simple, there would be no need for products like electronic cigarettes in the first place.
@Darren Bates:
not if you make your own nicotine free juice.. 1/4 litre cost you bout 5 euro..
72% chance of looking like a poser though.
Ok I love smelly candles but share a living room with apple vapers Noooo!
So 71% don’t
Take a bow!
And a tie!
HIQA
Not in relation to the Article but anyone else find the smoking ban started them smoking? Out to the smoking area chatting to the opposite sex?
Funny how things work
have your say