NHS Survey

[Deschain]

Just had a lady at my door doing a smoking survey for the NHS.

I told her about the wonders of E-Cigs and how easy it was to cease smoking etc, she didn't have a lot of knowledge on them, what she did know was that it wasn't nicotine on it's own that killed you/caused the massive smoking related health problems.

All in all she was dead impressed with how fast I quit and how effective the E-Cig is and she was very favourable towards them and marked down that it was those that helped me quit.

Heres hoping the NHS will take a more mature and objective view on these things than the FDA and other various world health orgs.


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[Bjorn Toulouse]

The ladies who ran my works smoking sesation (NHS) were not so impressed. Although they couldent get over the CO results I posted every week! There main objection was that it was not tested and they thought the idea of inhaling PG vapour was not the cleverest in the world.

Deschane, the first 3 weeks are the hardest so good on ya

 

[aseeryl]

bjorn Inform (not remind) these ladies that PG is an inert substance and had medical uses in the 1940's. NHS professionals shouldn't jump to ignorant and uninformed conclusions (but they do - hence all the old wives myths that populate peoples imaginations).

 

[Bjorn Toulouse]

I think it was just the fact they saw vapour, the other thing was probably that they get their training script and don,t sway from it. never the less my CO readings are that of a non smoker living in the country

 

[fcuk112]

my smoking cessation group has been quite supportive. although they say e-cigs are not regulated, as long as you're off smokes they are encouraging.

 

[Bjorn Toulouse]

my smoking cessation group has been quite supportive. although they say e-cigs are not regulated, as long as you're off smokes they are encouraging.

are they impressed whith your readings?
what do you do with all the niccorette patches they give you?
I have about 6 boxes of the stuff.

 

[hifistud]

Heres hoping the NHS will take a more mature and objective view on these things than the FDA and other various world health orgs.
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It would be lovely if it was down to the NHS, but it's not, unfortunately. the MHRA is the body responsible for approval of e-cigs as a smoking cessation device, and the NHS won't do much without the MHRA has done its bit.

That will require clinical trials, with a timescale of around 2 years before approval would be granted.

However, a report majoring on harm reduction has been published, and it's just possible that something could be done within its framework - but, again, clinical trials will very likely need to be done before the NHS would get all gung-ho about PVs even in that framework.

That said, if we can manage to get some level of approval, the NHS is so well thought of worldwide that it might well serve to change govt. views elsewhere - and give lobbyists something to hang their case on.

And yes, it's something I'm looking into, but, costs-wise, I think it would need all the current UK suppliers to band together to be able to afford to get it all done.

 

[Deschain]

This is solid info, HiFi, and certainly stuff I wasn't aware off.

Huge props to you for even thinking about doing something that helps e-cigs/e-cig users...I just vape the things, I'm not really a doer.


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[Angela]

It would be lovely if it was down to the NHS, but it's not, unfortunately. the MHRA is the body responsible for approval of e-cigs as a smoking cessation device, and the NHS won't do much without the MHRA has done its bit.

The MHRA has already looked a e-cigs and has deterined that they are NOT medical devices and so not under their control.

EDIT: But did you also see this thread from intellicig posted some time ago? http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...s-praise-intellicig-electronic-cigarette.html

 

[hifistud]

Hi Angela - yes, that's because they have not been submitted as smoking cessation devices or NRT - TS didn't think they needed it, as they were being marketed as smoking alternatives. However, if they're submitted for approval with the right trials etc., they stand a good chance of gaining approval - and then the NHS can - and will, I think - latch on in a big way.

 

[Angela]

Thanks for clarifying that.

The thing is, I am really concerned about them being classified as a NRT and the 'regulation' that will entail. I beleive we are far better off continuing on the road that everyone currently seems to be going down in the UK (and by that I mean all the relvant bodies/groups) - ie that of 'harm reduction'. For once, it would seem that just about everyone is signing the same tune (including the PV users)... and long may it continue!

 

[kinabaloo]

Propylene Glycol is a potent (and safe) germicide

"In one experiment, sick children in a convelescent's home were subjected to bacterial levels of propylene glycol. During the first year of the experiment, children in the control wards (i.e. those with no propylene glycol) suffered 100 infections. Children in the wards with propylene glycol suffered just five."

http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/34/6/578.pdf

If PG is not already used in hospitals and GP surgeries, it should be.

See also this great piece in Time:

"The researchers found that the propylene glycol itself was a potent germicide. One part of glycol in 2,000,000 parts of air would—within a few seconds—kill concentrations of air-suspended pneumococci, streptococci and other bacteria numbering millions to the cubic foot."

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,932876,00.html

Nicotine as anti-inflammatory agent may protect against the ravages of flu

Not a great article as a whole, but an easy read and with some good points that are backed by research :

http://diseases-viruses.suite101.com/article.cfm/nicotine_antiinflammatory_h1n1_cure

 

[hifistud]

Ah, well, MHRA is party to the "Harm Reduction" document produced by the tobacco advisory group of the Royal College of Physicians under HMG's purview, in which they call for general recognition of HR as a desirable concept, although still with the ultimate aim of tobacco cessation (a not altogether undesirable objective, all things considered). brochure and full text here

ASH has also called for MHRA to extend licensing for Theraputic Nicotine to include temporary and harm reduction usage, for longer term maintenance and so forth - again, with a view to getting folks off smokes, essentially.

Inevitably, there will be controls imposed on PVs and (more particularly) e-juices. This is most likely to happen as use reaches or approaches critical mass, and the financial implications for duty and taxation approach compromise - the two go hand in hand: as e-cig usage increases, cigarette usage will decline. Initially, it's likely to be "legitimate" smokers who seek the reduced cost benefits as well as the decreased cancer risk - although there will be a fair proportion of "imported under the radar" users who will switch as HMRC tightens its grip on ad-hoc smuggling and major illicit importations (the financial implications are huge for the treasury).

That's the point at which tax questions will be asked, and controls will link in with them. If we are ahead of the game, with consumer-led (and MHRA) controls already in place, we might avoid draconian taxation - the argument will already have been won with respect to health and reduced drain on NHS resources.

Thanks for clarifying that.

The thing is, I am really concerned about them being classified as a NRT and the 'regulation' that will entail. I beleive we are far better off continuing on the road that everyone currently seems to be going down in the UK (and by that I mean all the relvant bodies/groups) - ie that of 'harm reduction'. For once, it would seem that just about everyone is signing the same tune (including the PV users)... and long may it continue!