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Hāpai Te Hauora hold the national contract for tobacco control, and after having listened to a recent interview on RNZ
regarding rangatahi uptake of vaping, we would like to offer our perspective on this issue, which is informed by both
evidence and first hand community experience engaging with Māori and Pasifika whanau who are disproportionately burdened
by tobacco addiction.
Youth uptake
- Hāpai believe in minimising non-smokers’ (particularly children and young adults) uptake of vape use, and smoking of
tobacco should be monitored closely. We must contextualise vaping harm in the context of smoking. A common estimate used
is that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking, and while estimations of vaping risks may change based on
emerging evidence, we must not let this side track us from the core issue in that vaping is a less harmful alternative
for those who smoke.
- Our community work mirrors the statistics provided by ASH in that youth uptake of vaping is minimal and more prevalent
amongst rangatahi who smoke tobacco. We believe the aim should not be to prevent all young people from vaping. There may
be a significant health benefit in young people using vapes if this is an alternative to smoking or other harmful
behaviour.
- There is minimal evidence to suggest vaping is not a gateway drug for smoking, as shown by the ASH Year 10 survey.
Other recent international research in fact indicates vaping is correlated with a decline in youth smoking https://globalnews.ca/news/4685806/reality-check-relationship-smoking-vaping/
Benefits of vaping for whānau Māori
- Currently more Māori and Pasifika smoke than other ethnic groups, and there is a real risk that the regressive nature
of tobacco excise tax increases, although needed, do apply extra burden on Māori and Pasifika families. The provision of
emerging innovative harm minimisation tools such as vapes could provide new and effective support for those most in
need.
Regulations on vaping
- While we support the move for improved regulations, we believe that rather than restricting access on flavours deemed
"youth adjacent" e.g. snake venom, the advertising on these products should be amended so that they are less appealing
for rangatahi. Our community mahi tells us that appealing flavours like fruit and cream- based, are an incentive for
whānau to switch from smoking. Regulations must ensure that vapes and vapour products are as safe as possible without
compromising their appeal as alternatives to smoking
- If we are going to restrict access of vaping for rangatahi, it cannot be done without increasing barriers to tobacco.
Rangatahi who smoke/ vape are more likely to live in low income communities of which tobacco is 4x more available. It is
unethical to restrict their access to less harmful options while tobacco is on every corner and petrol station in their
community. It calls into question our morals as a country as to how much we want our tamariki to live thriving and
healthy lives.
As one kuia said "if I had to choose between my mokos smoking or vaping, I would choose vaping". This position is one we
have heard across the motu from whānau who have looked into vaping and see its relative benefits to tobacco.
We welcome the opportunity to talk further with you on this issue and are contactable as per our details below.