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Vaping: the argument for relaxing Australian laws
Posted on November 26, 2018
THE evidence that persuading cigarette smokers to switch to less harmful products saves lives has been around for a long time. Cigarettes kill. We’ve known that since 1950 (here and here), when it became… Read more -
New Zealand introduces sensible, balanced regulation for vaping
Posted on November 23, 2018
The Associate Minister of Health, Jenny Salesa (pictured) announced progressive new regulations on vaping and other smokeless tobacco products today. ATHRA applauds the regulations which find a sensible balance between helping smokers… Read more -
Claim that nicotine causes schizophrenia is not justified
Posted on November 23, 2018
Researchers have raised ‘serious concerns’ that nicotine may cause schizophrenia. However, there is no evidence to support the claim. The study in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry by researchers from Australia and Finland aimed to… Read more -
Youth smoking rates falling 3 times faster since vaping popular
Posted on November 21, 2018
The long-term decline in smoking rates in youth and young adults has ACCELERATED in the US since vaping became popular in 2014, according to a new study in the journal Tobacco Control… Read more -
An open letter to vapers: your job is not finished
Posted on November 14, 2018
Dear vapers, We are absolutely delighted that vaping has finally helped you quit smoking. You are feeling great, no longer smell of tobacco, saved a fortune and still can’t believe you did… Read more -
No excuse for high smoking rates among Indigenous people
Posted on November 14, 2018
New harm-reduced alternatives to smoking mean there is no excuse for Governments to leave Aboriginal and other Indigenous people to die. In this guest blog, Dr Marewa Glover (@MarewaGlover on Twitter), Director… Read more -
Vaping could help close the Indigenous health gap
Posted on November 8, 2018
Vaping could assist Indigenous smokers to quit and reduce Indigenous health, financial and social inequalities. This was the message of a special workshop on vaping held today (8 November 2018) at the… Read more -
To vape or not to vape? What does the evidence say?
Posted on November 7, 2018
Vaping is an effective quitting aid, is safer than smoking and is unlikely to be a significant 'gateway' into smoking for young people, according to leading researcher Professor Chris Bullen. Professor Bullen… Read more -
Metals inhaled from vaping are not a health risk
Posted on November 3, 2018
The daily exposure to metals from vaping are below established safety limits with normal use and are of minor health concern, according to a recently published study by leading researchers Konstantinos Farsalinos and… Read more -
South Australia introduces draconian vaping laws
Posted on October 26, 2018
South Australia is taking anti-vaping policy to a new level. The Tobacco Products Regulation (E-cigarettes and Review) Amendment Bill 2018 was passed in Parliament on 16 November 2018 and deliver the harshest regulations… Read more -
Should you vape? A doctor's view
Posted on October 23, 2018
MANY people still believe that vaping is just as bad for you as smoking ordinary cigarettes. But it isn’t. They also think that because you are inhaling nicotine in the vapour of e-cigarettes… Read more -
How far should we follow the money trail?
Posted on October 21, 2018
Connections can come in surprising ways. Senator Elizabeth Warren released DNA testing showing that she has between one in 64 and one in 1024 parts Native American Indian. All of us have… Read more -
Vaping ban discriminates against smokers with mental illness
Posted on October 18, 2018
ATHRA director, Stephen Elsom has produced a short film (see below) to highlight the plight of Australian smokers with mental illness who are particularly affected by the ban on nicotine e-liquid for… Read more -
Senator Peter Georgiou advocates for vaping
Posted on October 16, 2018
Senator Peter Georgiou from One Nation in Western Australia gave a compelling speech in the federal Parliament tonight supporting the legalisation of vaping. The Senator noted that smoking rates have flatlined in… Read more -
Vaping increases quitting in the real world setting
Posted on October 13, 2018
Smokers who use a vaporiser (e-cigarette) are more likely to try to quit and are more likely to quit successfully than smokers who don't vape. This was the finding from a study… Read more -
Australia could learn a lot from Canadian vaping laws
Posted on October 11, 2018
Canada passed laws to legalise and regulate vaping in May 2018. The new framework provides a sound basis for future Australian regulation. The Canadian approach encourages uptake by adult smokers while restricting… Read more -
Time to drop the name 'e-cigarette' for something more appropriate
Posted on October 9, 2018
It is time to consider replacing the terms 'e-cigarette' and ‘electronic cigarette’ with something more appropriate. These labels link a low-risk life-saving technology to a toxic and deadly product and are muddying… Read more -
Vaping could be the solution for public smoking bans
Posted on October 7, 2018
The proposed smoking bans in North Sydney’s CBD and Canberra’s public spaces are based on good intentions. Secondhand smoke is unpleasant and harmful to bystanders. However, smoking is a powerful addiction and… Read more -
Experts ask WHO to take a more positive approach to tobacco harm reduction
Posted on October 6, 2018
Over 70 leading international experts in nicotine science, policy and practice have written to the World Health Organisation (WHO) (here) asking it to adopt a more positive approach to tobacco harm reduction… Read more -
Is vaping a conspiracy created by Big Tobacco?
Posted on October 2, 2018
There is a pervasive myth that vaping was developed by the tobacco industry to prolong cigarette smoking or to hook the next generation of teens to tobacco addiction. This simply is not… Read more -
Federal Liberal Party pushes to overturn the vaping ban
Posted on September 18, 2018
In a major turnaround, the federal Liberal Party took the first step today towards legalising vaping by voting for an independent scientific inquiry into vaping. In today's Liberal party room meeting, the… Read more -
Regular vaping by adolescents in New Zealand is rare
Posted on September 18, 2018
The latest study from New Zealand confirms once again that vaping in young people is rare and there is little, if any, evidence that vaping is leading young people to smoking. Action on… Read more -
Proposed Northern Territory legislation on vaping misguided
Posted on September 12, 2018
The Northern Territory is seeking feedback on a proposed Bill which will regulate vaping the same as smoking. If passed, this Bill will restrict smokers' access to a far safer product and… Read more -
ATHRA's independence reaffirmed in latest analysis
Posted on September 3, 2018
Vaping crusader Dr Colin Mendelsohn has rejected claims he is in the pocket of 'Big E-Tobacco' amid allegations that his campaign group has been secretly accepting funds from the vaping industry. (Article published… Read more -
Myth busted. Most vapers are not 'dual users'
Posted on September 3, 2018
Anti-vaping advocates often argue that most vapers also smoke at the same time (dual use) and therefore vaping has no health benefits. However, research from a number of countries shows this is… Read more