Leading international public health experts have expressed serious concern over Kazakhstan’s upcoming ban on vapes, calling it a “step backwards” that runs counter to the unprecedented progress of more progressive countries that are sharply reducing the harmful impact of tobacco through the use of alternative nicotine products.
The Kazakh government’s intention to introduce the ban from 1 January 2024 puts the lives of the country’s 3.2 million smokers at risk, as they may lose their best chance to quit a deadly habit, according to Smoke Free Sweden, a movement highlighting Sweden’s success in the fight against smoking.
“We are deeply concerned by this regressive step by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health, which contradicts the outstanding achievements of countries that have adopted a progressive approach to modern products such as vapes and nicotine pouches,” said public health advocate and founder of Smoke Free Sweden Dr Delon Human.
“Around the world, alternative nicotine products are helping to save millions of lives by giving smokers the opportunity to switch away from cigarettes. They have been shown to be at least 95% less harmful than cigarettes and are among the most effective ways to quit smoking.”
“Banning these risk-reducing products will simply condemn many smokers to remain with cigarettes and expose them to an unjustifiably premature death.”
Dr Human urged the Kazakh authorities to follow the example of Sweden, where smoking prevalence is expected to fall to 5% in the coming months. This is the level at which a country is considered officially smoke-free.
Sweden became the first EU country to reach this milestone — 17 years ahead of schedule — thanks to policies aimed at making vapes and nicotine pouches accessible, acceptable and affordable for adult smokers.
“Quitting smoking, as Sweden has shown, saves lives,” said Dr Human. “Compared with the rest of Europe, Sweden has 44% fewer smoking-related deaths, 41% lower cancer incidence and 38% fewer deaths from any type of cancer.”
“Sweden is an example for other countries, such as the United Kingdom, where the health service is distributing free vape starter kits to smokers to help them quit. The government is funding the “Swap to Stop” programme with the aim of making the country smoke-free by 2030.
“Meanwhile, just last month, the largest US study of its kind confirmed the great value of vapes as a tool to help people quit smoking. Researchers at the Hollings Cancer Center in South Carolina found that vapes encourage people to quit smoking, even those who said they had no intention of quitting.
“Such evidence is compelling and can no longer be ignored. If the Kazakh authorities are serious about saving lives, they should follow the science and provide access to vapes, rather than blocking this proven “way out” for smokers.”
Source: smokefreesweden.org
