Prescription of e-cigarettes, NHS

EoghanIRL

Recently it has been the topic of much debate. There is clearly mixed opinions on the matter with both sides giving positives and negatives respectfully.
Quick link here: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-33978603
Or just google it if you are unfamiliar

So I thought I would start this thread and poll to see how the people of the Health sciences forum feel about the matter.

Personally, I am undecided but leaning towards no. I always remember being told that there is no such thing as "safe smoke".
Perhaps the most off putting thing for me is the lack of long term evidence.
Since the vaping and e-cigarette scene is relatively new, it is hard to draw any definite conclusions on long term effects.
Not to mention the obvious costs and potential of misuse.
I am not sure whether or not they should be advocated for yet.
However with evidence I would consider changing my opinion.

locum-motion

I answered 'Yes', but for me it is a Yes with a caveat.

Once proper trials for safety and efficacy have been performed, and manufacturers have applied for and been granted Product Authorisations by the HPRA (which naturally will involve the manufacturers meeting the same standards as all other manufacturers), then 'Yes'.

_Tombstone_

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haqi4xvjvKo

Theirs been a few stories knocking around the last year about the additives picked up in small studies on the e-liquids. Nasty stuff...less nasties than the real Cigs maybe but nasty non the less. They can put in what they want I think aswell, no regulation?

+ E-Cig users look stupid, I see theirs proper competitions to see who can exhale the biggest smoke cloud. Fecking eejits.

Atlantic Dawn

It's far safer, will save the state funding some degenerate backward cigarette adict in a bed going for their smokes while tens of thousands are spent keeping them alive.

The main reason the state wants to ban or regulate is they are losing a fortune in tax from ordinary tobacco.

dlouth15

Is there any real need to prescribe them though? Regulate them for quality, do more studies on safety, and then a doctor can simply advise smokers to switch to them like they might advise to take more exercise. At the moment they can't do that because they don't know what is in the liquids.

There's a debate in the UK as to whether they should be prescribed on the NHS (i.e. free or subsidised). The recent report suggested they should. Again, I don't think this is necessary. If someone can afford to smoke they can afford to buy e-cigarettes.

The OP says that there no such thing as a safe smoke. This is true but it is important to remember that e-cigarettes are not smoke. There's no burnt particulate matter. There's no combustion; just heating. There's no tar. The main substrate is that used in asthma inhalers. Nicotine is added but this is also not in itself dangerous.

Where problems might arise is in flavourings and other additives. This is where regulation is necessary. But if it over-medicalised and made expensive, this will put smokers off switching.

Mrs OBumble

Madness. Prescribe just enough therapy to help some break their addiction, yes. Prescribe a different addiction? No way.

EoghanIRL

Slightly off topic but anyway.
I was reading about the danger they pose to young children. Stories popping up about children seeing the coloured vaping liquid nicotine and drinking it , proving fatal in one case I was reading about.

Does anyone have any information on when regulation will be brought into Ireland regarding e-cigs/vaping?

jonski

EoghanIRL wrote: »

Slightly off topic but anyway.
I was reading about the danger they pose to young children. Stories popping up about children seeing the coloured vaping liquid nicotine and drinking it , proving fatal in one case I was reading about.

Does anyone have any information on when regulation will be brought into Ireland regarding e-cigs/vaping?

No different from any household cleaning liquid then really , I haven't seen one without a child proof cap in a long time .