EDITORIAL: Debunking the Vape-Hate Propaganda

The media’s determination to paint vaping in a bad light is nothing short of amazing. Study results are often misconstrued or misrepresented and evidence that supports the value of vaping is simply ignored. In fact, earlier this month, Lord Callanan (Conservative Party) slammed such activities in the House of Commons and openly criticised the way public health professionals and tabloid newspapers persist in presenting misleading reports that cause people to keep smoking because they believe vaping is just as dangerous.

Many enlightened individuals, like Lord Callanan, continue to point out the fact that a report by Public Health England states e-cigarettes are 95% less damaging to the health than normal cigarettes, but the media vape-hate continues.

Another recent study shows vaping has already helped 6.1 million people in Europe to stop smoking, but reports like this get very little media coverage.

The latest anti-vaping propaganda was published earlier today, in the Cape Bretton Post, under the title EDITORIAL: The Vape Debate.

The article begins by making the standard claim that the variety of vape flavours available, including chocolate and cotton candy, may be attractive to teenagers. The article then states research shows teens who vape are more likely to smoke later on in their lives. Where and when the study took place is not mentioned and such claims are easy to debunk. Most of the young people (16-25) interviewed for a recent study conducted by the UK Centre for Substance Use Research stated they believed vaping helps prevent people from smoking. They also said they considered tobacco “extremely harmful”.

Taking a huge leap, the article in the Cape Bretton Post then states “Just because the label claims it’s nicotine-free doesn’t mean it’s true.” A statement like that does not even deserve an answer.

The nonsense continues in the next paragraph, where readers are presented with the idea that dealers who sell e-liquid flavours such as “I Love Donuts” and “Citrus Pop” are “clearly hoping to expand their product beyond the 30-year smoking veteran hoping to trade his Export As for something a little less deadly.”

Apart from being insulting to reputable vape dealers, the above statement is as easy to debunk as the rest. In May this year, dozens of vapers gathered in New Jersey to protest against a ban on flavoured e-liquid. Most of them appeared to be at least 30-years old and none of them were wearing a school uniform. The signs they brandished bore statements such as “I Quit With Fruity Pebbles Flavoured Vape” and “I Quit with Sugar Cookie”.

Continuing with the vape-hate, the article published in the Cape Bretton Post states there are no independent studies that prove switching to e-cigarettes can help people to quit smoking. It then states there is not much research about the benefits and risks associated with e-cigarettes. This article has already debunked both of those statements. There are 6.1 Europeans who could deny the accuracy of statement number 1, and statement number 2 can be debunked by the report compiled by Public Health England.

Attempting to provide a few supportive statistics, the article references a study conducted in Ontario Canada. Out of the 2,300 Grade 9 students interviewed, 10% said they had used cigarettes. This may be true, but 20 years ago they would have probably been smoking behind the bike shed; and who’s to say the study subjects didn’t choose vaping in preference to smoking? Once again, the vape-hate claims do not bear up to close scrutiny.

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