E-cigarettes and vaporisers – new RANZCP position statement
26 November 2018
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has recently released a new position statement in support of the legalisation and regulation of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and other vaporised nicotine products.
People living with mental illness are more likely to smoke tobacco, and they smoke more heavily than the general population. They are less likely to succeed during a smoking cessation attempt.
Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of the poorer health and mortality outcomes suffered by this group.
E-cigarettes and vaporisers may provide a less harmful way to deliver nicotine to those who are unable or unwilling to stop smoking tobacco. The RANZCP therefore supports their use as harm reduction tools for people living with mental illness.
Tobacco harm reduction is an essential component of any strategy to improve health outcomes for people who smoke tobacco. Harm reduction strategies are designed to reduce rather than eliminate the harm associated with particular activities.
However, there are still significant gaps in our knowledge about the effects of long-term vapour inhalation on people’s health. Further research is required, including research to ascertain the effectiveness of vaping for smoking cessation, and whether it may provide a novel route into smoking initiation.
