THE MEDIA IS AWASH WITH CONCERNS about youth vaping. However a balanced assessment should consider both the harms as well as the benefits. I did a risk-benefit analysis based on the latest evidence and found that the benefits of youth……
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THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH is on a mission this week, waging a war on vaping. In an effort to "make Australia great again" in the field of tobacco control he has committed to stamp out “this public health menace”. Mark……
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A COCHRANE REVIEW published today found high-quality evidence that nicotine vapes and varenicline (Champix) are the two most effective single treatments for quitting smoking available in Australia. The study also found, “no clear evidence that either treatment increased serious side……
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MINISTER BUTLER'S UPDATED VAPING REGULATIONS are outlined in a recent Consultation Paper. Consultation has been sought as a box-ticking exercise, with 2 weeks to respond! Based on past experience, it is almost certain that the plan will be submitted for……
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AUSTRALIA'S SMOKING RATES have "essentially flatlined" according to Health Minister Mark Butler. The decline in smoking is 4-8 times slower in Australia than in New Zealand, Great Britain and the US over the last 4 years. Why? Australia has the……
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ON 2 MAY 2023, HEALTH MINISTER MARK BUTLER claimed that “vaping is creating a whole new generation of nicotine dependency in our community” and this is the main driver of his vaping crackdown. This claim has been used repeatedly by……
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THE QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY into vaping has failed to provide a balanced and evidence-based report and is a huge missed opportunity for public health. The flawed outcomes and recommendations were foregone conclusions, as I predicted in an earlier blog. An……
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YET AGAIN, an anonymous Australian anti-vaping 'researcher' has attempted to censor public debate on vaping, this time by making baseless claims that I am tied to the tobacco and vape industry. I recently published an online article for teachers on……
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ONLY ONE IN TWENTY 14-17-year-olds in Australia vapes 'frequently' and half of these were already smokers, according to Australian research. Frequent vaping was defined as weekly, or 6 days or more per month in the two studies. This is a……
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I GAVE A PRESENTATION at Grand Rounds at St Vincents' Hospital, Darlinghurst today on the safety and effectiveness of vaping nicotine. Here is a short version of the key messages. Is vaping effective? The latest Cochrane review of 6 randomised……
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