Cancer Research UK - the UK cancer research and awareness charity - has spoken out in support of vaping in the fight against cancer.
Cancer Research UK (CRUK) said that “There is growing evidence from around the world that vaping really does help people quit smoking”
In their latest article, CRUK once again asserts that vaping is an effective method to quit smoking and avoid relapse. They conducted a survey of the British people to prove their stance, and at the same time opened a path for smokers to have the opportunity to kick this bad habit. CRUK wrote:
“There is a lot of evidence to support the idea that vaping can help people quit smoking. In the UK alone, in 2015, a survey found that at least 18,000 people who were using e-cigarettes were former smokers and that vaping helped them quit this harmful habit. So if vaping can help people quit smoking, it could have a big impact on the fight against cancer.”
“Switching to e-cigarettes with community support will help smokers quit completely, leading them to a healthier lifestyle."
CRUK is concerned that misinformation about vaping by people and organisations linked to tobacco companies will hinder its research. “There are 12,000 Google searches a month asking whether vaping is safe, it’s ridiculous!” The organisation says it will continue to research and gather information from around the world to prove that vaping is actually beneficial for smokers, although this will be extremely difficult as more and more negative information emerges.
“Some studies have shown that the components in vaping vapor have harmful effects on living organisms. But these studies were conducted on very small scales and tested on animals or laboratory cells. They cannot provide evidence of harm in humans, nor can they answer the question of whether vaping or smoking is less harmful.”
“Our study shows that participants who switched from smoking to vaping had a positive change in their health. Those who switched to vaping were less exposed to harmful chemicals than those who continued to smoke.”
CRUK cites annual reviews conducted by Public Health England and reports by the Royal College of Physicians as evidence that vaping is much less harmful than smoking.
“A large body of research shows that cigarettes are extremely harmful, which is why experts can be confident that e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes. This is widely agreed upon by researchers and public health agencies.”
The number of young people using e-cigarettes in the UK remains very low.
CRUK also went on to clarify that rumours that e-cigarette use leads to smoking are untrue and can have unintended consequences.
“There is no strong evidence of a gateway effect in the UK. Although vaping among young people has increased in recent years, regular vaping among young people in the UK remains very low. In a survey of 11- to 18-year-olds in the UK in 2020, none of the 1,926 never-smokers reported vaping as a daily habit.”
Cancer Research UK have produced research and statements in support of vaping despite the opposition. They have worked hard to help people quit smoking, now it is our responsibility to spread the word.
