Nicotine E-Cigarettes Ease Cravings, but No Nicotine for Australasia

Study proves that Electronic Cigarettes containing nicotine ease cravings, but nicotine e-cigarette cartridges continue to be banned in Australia and New Zealand.

A study published on April 8th 2010 by the Clinical Trials Research Unit at the University of Auckland considers the effect of electronic cigarettes containing nicotine on the desire to smoke, nicotine withdrawal, user preferences, nicotine delivery, as well as adverse effects.

The results of the trial indicate that “16 mg Cartridges alleviated desire to smoke after overnight abstinence was well tolerated and had a pharmacokinetic profile more like the Nicorette inhalator than a tobacco cigarette.”

The first clinical trial of the e-cigarette in the world, conducted in 2008, was also carried out by the University of Auckland’s Clinical Trial’s Research Unit; however, neither of the studies are particularly relevant to Australia and New Zealand, since electronic cigarettes containing nicotine are not yet available in these countries.

In Australia, the sale of electronic cigarettes containing nicotine is illegal. Moreover, in New Zealand, the Ministry of Health has ruled that e-cigarettes containing nicotine cartridges fall under the requirements of the Medicines Act, and cannot be sold except as a registered medicine.

As an alternative, New Zealand-based Elusion electronic cigarette company have been distributing nicotine-free cartridges for the past three years to Australasia.

These nicotine-free e-cigarettes imitate the look, feel, taste and motion of a traditional cigarette, without producing tar or other poisonous chemicals caused from the consumption of traditional tobacco cigarettes. Celebrities such as Leonardo Di Caprio are now avid ‘vapors’, as the electronic cigarette becomes more and more accepted globally.

However, smokers are demanding electronic cigarettes that contain nicotine, as are available elsewhere in the world. Currently, nicotine cartridges can only be purchased online from overseas distributors for personal use, for up to 3 months use only.

A recent article from the Timaru Herald states that 26% of current smokers support the proposed ban on tobacco. This figure dramatically increases to 50% if non-tobacco nicotine substitute cigarettes become available.

Clearly, there is demand within the Australasian smoking community for electronic cigarettes containing nicotine, and a change in legislation for both Australia and New Zealand is sought-after.

ENDS

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