Thread by @ColinMendelsohn

Good to see some balance in this article with some commonsense from @AlexWodak

However still some serious misinformation
FYI @janehansen2000

https://twitter.com/janehansen2000/status/1403548143543746562

1. #vaping is not a Big Tobacco plot

-BT did not invent vaping
-Vapes are a direct competitor to cigarettes and are a huge disruptive threat to the industry
-BT is mostly focussed on #HTPs
-If BT switches from #cigs to #ecigs, that is good for public health. vaping is 95% safer

2. Popcorn lung has been long discredited

There has never been a single case of 'popcorn lung' from vaping or smoking, and diacetyl levels are hundreds of times higher in smoke than vapour

@CRUKLondon laid this to rest years ago
bit.ly/3iBt6Wk

3. EVALI

It is now clear that 'EVALI' was due to contaminated illicit THC oils. Not a single case has been linked to commercial nicotine vaping. Some denied THC use, most likely because it was illegal

Maintaining doubt is harmful to public health
bit.ly/3gwsGxM

4. Most kids who vape have smoked first

(Note to Ms Bittoun)
-Most teens smoke b4 vaping
-Kids who vape are risk-takers and are more likely to smoke, drink etc
-Regular vaping is rare in non-smokers
-Vaping is diverting far more youth away from smoking

bit.ly/3iBXz6W

5. Nicotine and the adolescent brain

(note to Ms Bittoun)
-Nicotine may harm rodent brains in lab studies
-There is no evidence that nicotine harms the human adolescent brain
-No evidence that hundreds of millions adults who smoked as teens have brain damage

6. Addiction to nicotine

(note to Ms Bittoun)
-Dependence on nicotine is rare in non-smoking youth who vape (West 2019; RCP 2021)
-Smoke contains other chemicals that make nicotine more addictive
-Most non-smokers vape infrequently and are at low-risk
-Many do not use nicotine

7. Vaping does not cause seizures

-Nicotine overdose can cause seizures
-There is no evidence that vaping causes seizures with normal use
-Even smoking does not cause seizures!

Suggested reading: bit.ly/2RSkoZ2

8. Finding a balance

-Kids should not vape and illicit sales should be policed
-But harsh restrictions on vaping because of small or potential risks to youth will reduce access for adult smokers for whom vaping could be life-saving