Campaigners say vaping safer than smoking

Anti-smoking campaigners in the North East have backed vaping as an alternative to smoking.

North East tobacco control programme Fresh says thousands of early deaths and illnesses could be prevented if every smoker stopped smoking tobacco completely and switched to vaping.

Thecallfollowsaftercoverage of a teenage boy from Nottinghamwhonearlylosthislife toanegativereactiontovaping.

Prof John Britton, director oftheUKCentreforTobacco& Alcohol Studies and Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, said: “It's not absolutely clear what has happened here, but it looks like an allergy to an inhaled substance. There have been a very small number of cases of this condition reported in vapers worldwide, so I think we can conclude that it happens but is thankfully very rare.

“This is worrying, and the riskneedstobeacknowledged, but in absolute terms it is extremely small - and, crucially, far smaller than that of smoking.”

Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh,said:“Ifyoudon’tsmoke or have never smoked, don’t vape. But if you do smoke, you would reduce the risks from switching completely.

“If every smoker stopped tomorrow and switched completely from smoking to vaping, it is likely this would prevent thousands of early deaths and cases of long term disease here in the North East and nationally.”

Martin Dockrell, tobacco control lead at Public Health England, added: “Electronic cigarettes might not be as safe as fresh air, but they’re much saferthansmokingandanyone who smoked tobacco should switch without hesitation.

“We are as certain as ever that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than smoking.”