Daily Archives: May 1, 2022

When vaping first gained popularity, it was marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. However, a recent surge in illnesses, hospitalizations -- and even deaths -- has shown that there may be much scarier health risks associated with e-cigarettes than we thought. Products like Juul are wildly addictive and popular among teens, leading to what some are calling an epidemic of nicotine use.

Lately, researchers have been discovering that it's not only those who use vaping products themselves who are harmed -- other people in the vicinity can be breathing in "secondhand" fumes, a phenomenon now dubbed "secondhand vaping."

Secondhand vaping is exactly what it sounds like: if you're near a person breathing out vapor from an e-cigarette, you generally breathe in the same air that they're exhaling and can inhale the same vapor.

When you breathe the same air as someone using an e-cigarette, you're "secondhand vaping."

And you don't have to be in super confined quarters with the vaper to still experience the negative side effects. A study from 2014 showed that indoor air quality was impaired when people in a ventilated room used e-cigarettes. Ultrafine particles can find their way from the vapor into the lungs of other people in the same space.

Another study from 2018 found that the vapor not only contains nicotine, but also heavy metals, aldehyde and glycerin, even though vaporizer companies try to paint these products as healthier in every way.

These chemicals contribute to the health risk posed by secondhand vaping. Both of these studies concluded that the pollutants emitted by vapor and the chemicals it contains can harm passive bystanders, including increased frequency of asthmatic reactions in bystanders. The vapor can also harm bystanders' lungs and contribute to lasting damage and disease.

E-cigarettes are becoming more and more of a teenage phenomenon.

With more teens than ever now vaping, it seems like the younger folks who are more at risk. A third of high-schoolers and middle-schoolers reported that they were exposed to vaping aerosol in 2018. The Surgeon General reported last year that e-cigarette use among young people qualifies as an epidemic. Plus,Phillip Morris and Juul are now being sued for deceptive marketing tactics designed to promote their products to minors.

Teenagers are typically much more impressionable to peer pressure than their older counterparts, so it's harder for many of them to remove themselves from social situations that pose a health risk. Personally, I was already so embarrassed by just being in middle school that I can't imagine speaking up if I saw someone using an e-cigarette.

Those with pre-existing lung or breathing conditions are also at a greater risk: If you have asthma or a related condition, the effects of secondhand vaping may be heightened. The aerosol in vapor can cause throat and respiratory irritation, so if you're already feeling a little sick or have a sore throat, you could feel much worse.

Fine, I'll be the buzzkill here. If you really want to avoid the negative health effects of secondhand vaping, you may just want to not hang out with your friends while they're using e-cigarettes. Or, if you're reading this and you are an e-cigarette user who's not ready to give it up yet, at least don't vape around other people (especially kids).

Stepping away from your friends while they vape can be hard, but doing so will protect your lungs.

Besides avoiding vapers while they partake, you can set ground rules for your own personal spaces. Tell people you would rather they not vape in your car, home or anywhere else that you have some sway.

If someone close to you, like a parent, caretaker or coworker, uses e-cigarettes, you can kindly ask them to stop while you're around. Frame it as a way to protect both your health and theirs, and hopefully they'll respect your wishes.

Correction, September 13, 2:18 p.m. PT: This article misrepresented metal levels in e-cigarettes. The incorrect statement has been deleted.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Read the rest here:

Secondhand vaping: The latest vaping health risk - CNET

Johnny Depps former doorman, Alejandro Romero, was driving a car and vaping during his video testimony in the Depp v. Amber Heard defamation trial.

Romero could indeed be seen driving and vaping during video testimony shared in the April 2022 defamation trial though, to be clear, the video consisted of a deposition recorded in January 2021, and was not live.

An unusual moment took place during the fraught public defamation trial between actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, when Depps former doorman was seen vaping and driving a car during his testimony.

In a recorded deposition shown in the courtroom on April 27, 2022, Romero responded to questions about Heard and Depp who lived in a Los Angeles apartment building during the years 2015 and 2016 while vaping and driving at the same time. The testimony was recorded in January 2021.

Romero described the time Heard asked him to investigate a possible intruder at the Los Angeles apartment building, where he worked as a doorman. He said he believed the intruder was just their dog scratching at the door.

They were talking about someone trying to get into their unit, and in my head I was saying you really think someone is trying to get into your unit?, Romero said. Theres scratches four inches above the floor on your door. That was a dog trying to get into your unit. [] They were so afraid I actually went. They asked me to go inside the unit just to check room by room to make sure that no one was actually there.

He also expressed his frustration with the trial, saying he didnt want to deal with this any more.

As he spoke, he was vaping and driving. After the video of his deposition was over, Judge Penney Azcarate looked visibly bemused, and members of the jury were heard laughing through the recording. Azcarate was seen taking her glasses off and shaking her head.

Alright that was a first, Im sorry, she said after a pause.

Elaine Bredehoft, Heards lawyer, said, I will say your honour that was the most bizarre deposition

Azcarate then said, Yeah, OK, I just got to say Ive never seen that before. Ive seen a lot of things, but Ive never seen that.

The full deposition can be seen here:

Romeros deposition was part of a trial expected to last six weeks between the two formerly married actors that started on April 12, 2022, in Fairfax, Virginia. In 2019 Depp filed a defamation lawsuit against Heard because of an op-ed she wrote about domestic abuse in 2018, in which she did not name him but described a timeline that coincided with their divorce. Depp, however, said the article irreparably damaged his career. The former couple has been caught up in a messy series of lawsuits and public accusations about domestic abuse since their divorce in 2016.

Sources:

Front Desk Employee Testifies on Penthouse Incident (Makes Johnny Laugh). http://www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RveD76lb0eA. Accessed 28 Apr. 2022.

Thomas, Tobi. Doorman Witness Vapes and Drives during Testimony in Depp v Heard Trial. The Guardian, 28 Apr. 2022. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/apr/28/doorman-witness-vapes-and-drives-during-testimony-in-depp-v-heard-trial. Accessed 28 Apr. 2022.

What to Know About Johnny Depp and Amber Heards Defamation Trial. Time, https://time.com/6171006/johnny-depp-amber-heard-trial/. Accessed 28 Apr. 2022.

Witness Vapes & Starts Driving During Testimony. http://www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l04R6SEtBY. Accessed 28 Apr. 2022.

Read the rest here:

Was Johnny Depp's Doorman Driving and Vaping While Giving Testimony in Trial? - Snopes.com

Young activists rally to raise awareness by calling on Capitol Hill decision-makers in Washington, D.C. during Moment of Action for Mental Health

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --Truth Initiative, the organization behind the highly effectivetruthyouth smoking, vaping and nicotine public education campaign, is gathering young people from across the country in Washington, D.C. today for a Moment of Action for Mental Health. The event, taking place on the National Mall,will call attention to the impact that vaping nicotine is having on youth mental health and demand decision-makers declare it a mental health issue.

The Moment of Action is part of truth's latest campaign, Breath of Stress Air,which busts the fantasy that vaping nicotine is a stress reliever and calls out the tobacco industry for promoting e-cigarettes and vaping as a way to deal with stress. When in fact, vaping nicotine can increase stress levels and amplify feelings of anxiety and depression.

As part of the Moment of Action, young activists including former e-cigarette users will be taking a symbolic live breath to call attention to the impact that nicotine use is having on youth mental health. Leading up to the Moment of Action, hundreds of thousands of young people showed their support for the effort by "taking breaths" at thetruth.com/mentalhealth2022. While in Washington, D.C., young people are also meeting with Members of Congress, members of the Biden Administration and Admiral Rachel Levine, the Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. They will elevate the discussion around vaping and mental health and call for it to be declared a public health crisis. As momentum builds, young people nationwide can text "ACTION" to 88709 to participate.

The Moment of Action comes on the heels of an advisory issued by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on the state of mental health among young people, in which he called youth mental health an "urgent public health crisis." At the same time, the latest 2021 National Youth Tobacco Surveyshows that youth vaping remains at epidemic levels with more than two million high school and middle school students using e-cigarettes. These colliding crises are especially troubling given the fact that nicotine can worsen symptoms of anxiety and depressionin addition to the physical health risks associated with its use.

The Moment of Action for Mental Health event in Washington, D.C. will feature more than a dozen young activists including both former vapers and non-vapers from Alabama, Alaska, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Tennessee and other states who are leading education and awareness efforts about the dangers of vaping nicotine among youth in their communities.

"As a former vaper who has dealt with mental health repercussions amplified by nicotine, I am passionate about sharing my experiences in hopes it can change views on vaping and help others looking to quit," said Sam, age 20. "I'm excited to be joining in the Moment of Action and hope it will inspire others to learn more about the connection between nicotine and mental health."

"Now more than ever, it is an important time to address how nicotine affects my generation's mental health," said Brooklyn, age 22.

truth's proven-effective campaigns

The Moment of Action for Mental Health continues truth's latest Breath of Stress Aircampaign that debunked the marketing of e-cigarettes as stress relievers. It called out the tobacco industry for selling vaping as a way to deal with stress, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Truth Initiative survey found that 93% of e-cigarette users said vaping made them feel more stressed, depressed, or anxious, while 90% of those who quit said they felt less stressed, anxious, or depressed.

The Breath of Stress Air campaignbuilds on a larger truth effort It's Messing with Our Heads: Depression Stickwhich first exposed the connection between vaping nicotine and youth mental health. It seeks to de-normalize youth vaping by debunking the myth that vaping nicotine can help reduce stress, and to normalize quitting through a free and first-of-its-kind quit vaping text message program, This is Quitting from truth.

Resources to help those looking to quit

Connecting young people with resources is a key component of the truth campaign. This is Quitting fromtruthis a first-of-its-kind text message quit vaping program that is helping more than 440,000 young people on their journey to quit. The program is free and anonymous. Young people can enroll by texting "DITCHVAPE" to88709to get help. Arandomized clinical trialfound that This is Quitting increased quit rates among young adults aged 18-24 by nearly 40% compared to a control group.

Breathing exercises have been proven to help with nicotine cravings that cause stress and anxiety. For this reason, truth has launched a partnership with Breathwrk through This is Quitting. Program users can access six months of free membership to Breathwrk Pro including access to custom breaths to help on their quit journey by texting "BREATHE" to 88709.

For help with quitting vaping or to learn more about the connection between vaping nicotine and mental health, teens and young adults can visit thetruth.comfor free resources.

About Truth InitiativeTruth Initiative is a national public health organization dedicated to achieving a culture where all young people reject smoking, vaping and nicotine and a future where tobacco and nicotine addiction are a thing of the past. In 2020, we celebrated 20 years of saving lives and preventing millions of youth from smoking. Our impact has helped drive the teen smoking rate down from 23% in 2000 to under 3% in 2021. The truth about tobacco and the tobacco industry are at the heart of our proven-effective and nationally recognized truth public education campaign. As youth e-cigarette use threatens to puta new generation at risk for nicotine addiction, we are leading the fight against tobacco and nicotine addiction in all forms. Our rigorous scientific research and policy studies, community and youth engagement programs supporting populations at high risk of using tobacco, and innovation in tobacco dependence treatment are also helping to end one of the most critical public health battles of our time. Based in Washington D.C., our organization, formerly known as the American Legacy Foundation, was established and funded through the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between attorneys general from 46 states, five U.S. territories and the tobacco industry. To learn more, visit truthinitiative.org

About truth truth is the longest-running and most successful national tobacco prevention campaign for youth and young adults. The campaign delivers the facts about tobacco use and the marketing tactics of the tobacco industry so that young people can make informed choices and influence others to do the same. We are credited with preventing millions of young people from becoming smokers and are equally committed to achieving the same results in ending the youth e-cigarette epidemic, including by helping young people quit with our first-of-its-kind quit vaping program for teens and young adults This is Quitting. truth is part of Truth Initiative, a national public health organization dedicated to achieving a culture where young people reject smoking, vaping, and nicotine. Learn more about truth and the organization behind it at thetruth.comand truthinitiative.org.

SOURCE Truth Initiative

More:

Young people join Truth Initiative to demand action on youth vaping nicotine as mental health issue - PR Newswire

The ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has raised concerns about proposals from the Scottish Government surrounding the tightening of rules on the advertising and promotion of vaping products, including restrictions on in-store displays.

The Scottish Government consulted on new regulations on the advertising and promotion of vaping products to ensure they are only used as an aid to stop smoking and prevent young people and adult non-smokers from the uptake of these products.

The consultation proposals would have a direct impact on convenience retailers by introducing restrictions on:

In its submission, ACS highlighted the lack of clarity in the proposals and urges the Scottish Government to provide clearer definitions of in-store promotional displays, leaflets, flyers and moving video apparatuses, if they are to proceed with new regulations.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: We do not support proposals to ban in-store displays or use of leaflets and flyers that promote e-cigarettes. These types of interventions have a disproportionate impact on local shops that have limited space to display products meaning they would incur significant financial cost to refit stores.

Banning in-store promotions and other advertising mechanisms would also reduce access to vaping products, which are a growing category for retailers and are widely considered to be an important smoking cessation tool. The Scottish Government should instead focusing resource on enforcement activity to remove illegal e-cigarette products from the market.

View original post here:

Concerns raised over vaping product regulation proposals in Scotland - Convenience Store

CEO of Proactive Health Solutions Dr Fundile Nyati says vaping is not as safe as people think.

The world is observing World No Tobacco Month.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and its global partners dedicated the month of May annually to raise awareness of the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use.

Speaking to Gugs Mhlungu, CEO of Proactive Health Solutions Dr Fundile Nyati says quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things one can do.

Quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things that people embark on many people want to stop but are unable to.

The big issue is nicotine which is one of the chemicals that are in cigarettes. There are plus minutes 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes but nicotine is very very addictive.

Nyati says some people have moved to vaping with the assumption that it's safer yet it is not.

Some people have died as a result of vaping and some people have been admitted to hospital but what they found is that it's people who have modified these gadgets used in vaping.

What has been found is that vaping and even the hubbly are now being seen as a gateway to actual smoking.

Listen to the full interview below:

This article first appeared on 702 : World No Tobacco Month: 'Quitting smoking is the most difficult thing'

Read the original here:

World No Tobacco Month: 'Quitting smoking is the most difficult thing' - CapeTalk

80% of Malaysians are in favour of having the local vape industry regulated by authorities.

Following his attendance at the recent virtual Global Tobacco & Nicotine Forum (GTNF) 2021, Fi explained that Malaysia needs to look for innovative solutions to manage the local high smoking rates. This is where tobacco harm reduction (THR) can be particularly beneficial, as it would allow smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives in their journey to quit completely, he said.

A recent survey has indicated that 80% of Malaysians, are in favour of having the local vape industry regulated by authorities. Earlier in 2021, the Malaysian Vape Chamber of Commerce (MVCC) had called onto the Malaysian government to set in place appropriate regulations on nicotine-containing e-liquids. He said that amongst other things, this move would have a positive effect on the local economy by creating more jobs and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).

The findings show that there are more than 3,300 businesses related directly to the vape industry, with a workforce of more than 15,000 workers, said the MVCC on launching its Malaysian Vaping Industry report.

MVCC president Syed Azaudin Syed Ahmad, said that the report findings show that the sector is a viable and growing industry in Malaysia, and that it has facilitated the growth of local entrepreneurs. In addition, the Malaysian vape industry currently has an established ecosystem comprising manufacturers, importers and retailers, and a growing distribution and logistics network, he said.

And a recent poll has indicated that the public is of the same opinion. Titled Malaysian Insights & Perspectives on Vape, the poll was commissioned by the Malaysian Vape Industry Advocacy (MVIA) and conducted by market research firm Green Zebras. The compiled responses indicated that 76% of the respondents agree that the Malaysian economy would benefit from regulating the products.

Moreover, 87% agreed on a vape tax and 74% think that the government could spend the collected revenue on areas of importance, such as education and the economy. Recent reports from local industry groups already confirmed that the vape industry has significant potential to contribute to the Malaysian economy with capabilities to create jobs, develop existing businesses and SMEs (small and medium enterprises) within the industry, and attract investments, said MVIA president Rizani Zakaria.

Meanwhile Malaysias health minister Khairy Jamaluddin has recently announced a banon the sales of cigarettes and safer nicotine alternative products to anyone born in 2005 or beyond. The plan was released at the 150th session of the World Health Organizations (WHO) executive board meeting where Jamaluddin said the hope is that the legislation is finalized this year and that it would bring about a generation endgame to smoking.

In response to the announcement countless international public health experts wrote to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob warning him that such a measure would eventually just create a large black marketand just fuel the illicit trade of the products.

In the letter, academics and tobacco harm reduction experts David Abrams, Clive Bates, Ray Niaura andDavid Sweanor,said that prohibitionist approaches may have unintended consequences. We hope the government will consider the limitations and likely unintended consequences of prohibition measures. We hope ministers will consider the alternative approach of risk-proportionate regulation based on MPOWER and tobacco harm reduction.

Read Further: The Star

Malaysia Reminded The Importance of Sensible Vape Laws to Reduce Tobacco Harm

Here is the original post:

Much Needed Tobacco Harm Reduction Approaches in Malaysia - Vaping Post