Thursday 30th May, 2019: Just days after a breakthrough study of more than 18,000 smokers1 showed that vaping increased chances of successfully quitting by 95%, adult Australian smokers who can’t or won’t quit nicotine are being encouraged to consider vaping as a less harmful alternative to conventional cigarettes as part of the first ever Aussie Vape Day on Thursday 30thMay 2019.
The chosen day immediately precedes the World Health Organisation’s World No Tobacco Day on May 31st.
The campaign promotes tobacco harm reduction and maps out the legal pathway to less harmful nicotine products for Australian smokers. It shines a light publicly – for the first time – on how smokers can legally switch from conventional cigarettes to vaping. Aussie Vape Day has been established by the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (ATHRA), Legalise Vaping Australia and the New Nicotine Alliance Australia.
ATHRA Chairman Conjoint Associate Professor Colin Mendelsohn says that quitting completely is always the preferred option. However, for smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit nicotine, switching to vaping can lead to substantial health benefits.
“Vaping is not risk-free, but the UK Royal College of Physicians estimates that it is at least 95% less harmful than smoking2,” said Associate Professor Mendelsohn. “Unfortunately, awareness of these facts is very low in Australia compared to other countries. Just 35% of Australian say they understand that vaping is a lot less harmful than conventional cigarettes. In the UK this figure is 59%3.”
“This new study just published also adds to the growing evidence that vaping can act as an effective aid for many smokers who are looking to quit,” added Associate Professor Mendelsohn.
“Vaping is also a lot cheaper than smoking conventional cigarettes. Cigarette prices have tripled in Australia in the last 10 years and the high prices are causing financial pain for many smokers who are unable to quit. Vaping is about 10% of the cost of smoking. A 20-pack a day smoker will save $9,000 per year on average by switching,” said Associate Professor Mendelsohn.
