More vaping means less cigarette smoking, and that’s a good thing for public health. Unfortunately, FDA regulations still undermine the vaping industry.
Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the sale of the Vuse Solo, a first-of-its-kind acknowledgment that ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery system) products have a positive impact on public health.
According to the FDA’s Technical Project Lead Review, “studies have shown that daily ENDS use is associated with significant reductions in combusted cigarette use.” The review also suggests that devices like the Vuse Solo are much less toxic than cigarettes, greatly reduce smokers’ exposure to carcinogens, and appeal mainly to cigarette-using individuals.
In short, more vaping means less cigarette smoking, and that’s a good thing for public health. According to one study, if every U.S. smoker switched to e-cigarettes, it would prevent between 1.6 and 6.6 million premature deaths, depending on the long-term risks of e-cigarette use and the number of non-smokers who begin vaping.
Thankfully, smoking is in decline. In 2019, the CDC reported 13.1 million fewer adult smokers than in 1995. Additionally, data suggests that cigarette use has also plummeted among high schoolers. According to a survey from the University of Michigan, the rate at which teens are smoking has been cut by two-thirds over the last decade. The study found only 4.2% of respondents used cigarettes in 2020, down from 12.8% ten years prior.
John Burzawa – HumanProgress – 2021-11-04.