• NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
Baguio Chronicle
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Baguio Chronicle
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

Wrong information deters smokers from switching to better alternatives

Baguio Chronicle by Baguio Chronicle
June 23, 2021
in Health, News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
5
SHARES
18
VIEWS

ADVOCATES of tobacco harm reduction (THR) urged adult smokers to discern the science behind non-combustible alternatives as misleading and false information may push them away from switching to better nicotine alternatives like vapes and heated tobacco products (HTPs).

“The perception of harm from vaping is not consistent with the scientific evidence. Local public health experts should take the lead in providing Filipino smokers who cannot or do not want to quit smoking by themselves or with currently-approved methods with accurate scientific information on e-cigarettes and other better nicotine alternatives,” Clarisse Virgino, Philippine representative to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) said.

Virgino was referring to a study done by Public Health England (PHE), an executive agency of the UK Department of Health and Social Care, that found “the proportion [of smokers] who thought vaping was less harmful than cigarettes declined from 45 percent in 2014 to 34 percent in 2019.”

ADVERTISEMENT

These misperceptions, according to the report, are particularly common among smokers who do not vape. “Increasingly incorrect perceptions among the public about the harms of vaping could prevent some smokers using vaping products to quit smoking,” the report said.

PHE has been consistent in its stance that “e-cigarettes are around 95 percent safer than combustible cigarettes.” 

In its 2020 report, PHE stated that despite reductions in smoking prevalence, smoking remains the biggest single cause of preventable death and disease and a leading cause of health inequalities. The agency posited that “alternative nicotine delivery devices that are less harmful could play a crucial role in reducing this health burden.”

The report further stated that “vaping regulated nicotine products have a small fraction of the risks of smoking,” and that smokers should be encouraged to try regulated nicotine vaping products along with smoking cessation medications and behavioral support to greatly increase their chances of successfully stopping smoking.

In the Philippines, where more than 16 million individuals smoke with a low quit rate of four percent and a smoking-related death rate of 88,000 per annum, Virgino suggested that the Department of Health (DOH) “should broaden its tobacco control strategy.” 

“Combustion in cigarettes, not nicotine, is what is harmful to the health of smokers. As such, Filipino smokers who would otherwise continue smoking should be encouraged to switch to less harmful nicotine alternatives such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Doing so would significantly reduce smoking-related sickness and deaths in the country,” she said.

Virgino said THR is a public health strategy that aims to provide better alternatives to reduce harm caused by smoking. 

“Instead of sticking with the myopic ‘quit or die’ approach of the World Health Organization, the DOH should look at the emerging science and consider adopting THR in the country’s tobacco control strategy,” she said.

THR is the key advocacy of CAPHRA – a regional alliance committed to educating, advocating, and representing the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use products that reduce harm from tobacco use. Its country representatives work with THR experts and advocates from around the world. CAPHRA is an alliance of consumer organizations that aims to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use products that reduce harm from tobacco use.

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

RIVER CLEARING

Next Post

FRANKLY YOURS – Freedom of choice and anti-discrimination

Baguio Chronicle

Baguio Chronicle

Hailed by the Philippine Press Institute’s Annual Community Press Awards for Excellence as the country’s Best Edited Community Newspaper. Best in Photo Journalism-Weekly 2015 & 2016 and Best in Environmental Reporting-Weekly in 2018.

Related Posts

Panagbenga falls short of tourist goals but “still successful”

March 15, 2023

EC-MCO seeks to join BENECO in ERC case against more looming power rate increases

March 15, 2023

Bill renewing BENECO franchise moves forward in Congress

Land conversion, pandemic hurt La Trinidad’s strawberry industry

Police patrol construction sites without permits in Baguio

Baguio launches own traffic app as city faces worsening gridlock

Latest Stories

FACT CHECK: Philippines has one of the lowest inflation rates in the world #FactsFirstPH

FACT CHECK: Philippines has one of the lowest inflation rates in the world #FactsFirstPH

March 15, 2023

Panagbenga falls short of tourist goals but “still successful”

March 15, 2023

EC-MCO seeks to join BENECO in ERC case against more looming power rate increases

March 15, 2023

Baguio Chronicle

 

The Baguio Chronicle is the fastest- growing news publication in Northern Luzon today. It was established on December 6, 2009 in Baguio City.

© 2022 The Baguio Chronicle Website Design and Development by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In