A group representing general practitioners is concerned by officials' decision to fund vaping kits because of the associated health risks.
The Government announced on New Year’s Eve it would begin providing the kits to stop-smoking services to help people quit, as part of the Smokefree 2025 plan.
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said the move was to provide smokers with more tools to quit.
“Vaping has played a key role in reducing smoking rates and the Government supports adults switching to vaping because vaping is far less harmful than smoking cigarettes.
"Vaping has played a key role in reducing smoking rates", says Associate Health Minister Casey Costello. Photo / Mark Mitchell
“Clients will receive a vape device and one month’s supply of nicotine pods each month over a three-month period with continuing support from a stop-smoking service.
“Those using quit-smoking services are four times more likely to successfully stop smoking compared to those who receive no support, and this initiative provides the services with another tool,” Costello said.
But General Practitioners Aotearoa is concerned the Government is funding the products without robust scientific evidence that they help people quit smoking.
GPA said a study assessing a “vape to quit” initiative reported it had only limited success. Sixteen per cent of participants were both smoke-free and vape-free after the programme.
In the study, 22% of participants were dual users at the end of the program, still smoking and vaping as well. Photo / Bevan Conley.
A third of participants gave up smoking for vaping, but most participants were still smoking at the end of the programme.
The report said nicotine-containing e-cigarettes were “popular in all cohorts”, which may be part of the problem.
In the study, 22% of participants were dual users at the end of the program, still smoking and vaping as well.
GPA said emerging evidence also indicated vaping posed significant health risks, including lung damage and potential links to lung cancer.
It said research had demonstrated that vaping, even without nicotine, could have immediate negative effects on lung function.
It said a recent study found vaping reduced oxygen intake, similar to the effects of smoking tobacco.
While long-term studies were ongoing, concerns had been raised about the potential link between vaping and lung cancer.
The group also had concerns about policy development and that officials had adopted positions aligning with tobacco industry interests.
The organisation had called on the Government to reassess its funding decisions, consult with healthcare professionals and maintain transparency.
GPA said despite its stance on this decision, it was committed to keeping an open mind and supporting evidence-based strategies to reduce smoking prevalence and improve public health.
