AVCA Welcomes Announcement From Nicky Wagner, MP on E-cigs
PRESS RELEASE - IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
AVCA WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT FROM NICKY WAGNER, MP on E-CIGS
Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA) is pleased at the announcement made by Associate Health Minister Nicky Wagner this morning as a step in the right direction. It shows the vapers of New Zealand that the government is actually working towards a SmokeFree 2025 that includes harm reduction technologies that can save lives.
"There are a number of former smokers who have recently 'graduated' from the AVCA Vape It Forward (VIF) program in Wairarapa who were concerned that their ability to source what they needed to continue vaping as a cessation tool would be unduly hindered by the govt", said Nancy Sutthoff, Co-Director and Co-Founder of AVCA. "Our program in Wairarapa has had a 95% switch rate and the folks who have used it said that before the program, they thought that they would never be able to kick the smoking habit for both health and financial reasons."
"One of the hallmarks of AVCA's mission is to work with the community towards providing information, education, advocacy and support for smokers and vapers alike in New Zealand. All stakeholders, from a smoker interested in vaping, health care providers, vapers, government officials - have begun and need to continue to work collaboratively towards this end if we are to achieve SmokeFree2025", said Steve Dohmen, who along with Sutthoff, founded AVCA in 2016.
"Interestingly enough", said Dohmen, "AVCA has recently launched its 'AVCA Approved Vendor Program, and all of the vendors of VTANZ have joined as we work collaboratively towards best practice in the industry and for the benefit of vaping consumers in New Zealand. This announcement confirms that we are on the track and the momentum is heading towards an excellent outcome for the smokers and vapers of New Zealand."
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