Encouraging Maori and Pasifika Smokers to Vape

January 29, 2019
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As more Maori and Pacific smokers are turning to vaping to help quit the habit, a Kiwi-family Vape business NZVAPOR is doing its bit support their efforts.

Expert and advocate QJ Satchell from NZVAPOR says thousands of people have already taken up vaping, and it’s helping, having work-supported Smoking Cessation programs, the National Institute for Health Innovation, various

District Health Boards, universities, research institutes and hospitals in New Zealand.

As the first company in New Zealand to produce e-liquids in a registered clean environment through its ISO grade 5 manufacturing plant and warehouse in Silverdale, NZVAPOR supports the position by the Ministry of Health which sees vaping as having the potential to make a contribution to the Smokefree 2025 goal.

The Ministry of Health research shows that Maori smoking rates in particular are some of the highest in the world, however QJ of Nga Puhi descent kiicked the smoking habit with the help of vaping almost six years ago.

“My own journey to quit smoking started when my brother Kayne, who is now my business partner, sent me my first vape device with a note ‘give this a try’.

“It worked for me and it changed my life so I want to offer this experience to other smokers wanting to quit the habit. It’s a great alternative to smoking and for me it’s about doing the right thing – helping smokers to stop smoking,” says QJ.

Expert opinion is that vaping products are significantly less harmful than smoking tobacco, but not completely harmless.

A range of toxicants have been found in vapour, including some cancer causing agents but, in general, at levels much lower than found in cigarette smoke or at levels that are unlikely to cause harm. Smokers switching to vaping products are highly likely to reduce their health risks and for those around them.

QJ, an advisor to the Health Promotion Agency whose focus is on helping gain better health outcomes for Maori and Pacific people, says there are some vape products (coil and juices) that are safer than other products.

“Our smallest ‘all-in-one’ vaping device caters to a smoker of 5-15 cigarettes a day, so our products are tailored to gradually help smokers move off cigarettes.”

NZVAPOR’S QWIT Stik is a rechargeable device and comes with a FREE 5 week smoking replacement program.

“We aim to make vaping easy, convenient and economical for vapers.

“Vaping is about 10% of the cost of smoking. A vaper can buy a bottle of e-liquid for $20.00 that lasts up to 4 weeks, compared to $40 for a packet of cigarettes that only lasts 2-3 days.”

The Ministry of Health states that when used as intended, vaping products pose no risk of nicotine poisoning to users, but e-liquids should be in child-resistant packaging. Vaping products release negligible levels of nicotine and other toxicants into ambient air, with no identified health risks to bystanders.

“Vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking and the Ministry of Health is backing vaping products now through its regulation process.”

There are no mandatory product safety requirements specifically for vaping products in New Zealand, although generic product safety standards apply.

The Government is planning to regulate vaping products later this year, as it’s seen as another step towards New Zealand becoming a smokefree country.

At this stage, however, the Ministry of Health does not have enough evidence to recommend vaping products confidently as a smoking-cessation tool.

Published 05:00, Jan 29 2019

SOURCE: https://spasifikmag.com/communityhealth/nzvapor19/