The Royal College of Physicians — a major British medical organization — endorsed e-cigarettes as a healthy alternative to traditional smoking worthy of encouraged use among the smoking public. The endorsement came in a new report released Thursday, and is decidedly at odds with the anti-e-cigarette agendas of American institutions like the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration.
The 200-page report found e-cigarettes are not a gateway to smoking, nicotine replacement therapy does not attract adult never smokers to use, e-cigarette use is likely to encourage smokers to abstain from traditional cigarettes and that the harm from long-term e-cigarette use — while possible — is likely minor and substantially less than harms caused by smoking tobacco.
"This report lays to rest almost all of the concerns over these products, and concludes that, with sensible regulation, electronic cigarettes have the potential to make a major contribution towards preventing the premature death, disease and social inequalities in health that smoking currently causes in the U.K.," said John Britton, professor of epidemiology and chair of the RCP's Tobacco Advisory Group.
The decision of the RCP to endorse e-cigarettes highlights a substantial difference in health policy philosophy between American and British health officials. While the CDC condemns e-cigarette use, the RCP seems more inclined to embrace harm-reduction techniques.
"With careful management and proportionate regulation, harm reduction provides an opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people. It is an opportunity that, with care, we should take," said RCP president Jane Dacre, MD.
A recent CDC e-cigarette study attempted to shed light on the impact of e-cigarettes on the youth population, citing advertisements as effective means by which to recruit underage e-puffing.
"Kids should not use any type of tobacco product, including e-cigarettes," said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD. "Exposure to e-cigarette advertising is associated with youth e-cigarette use — and that is concerning to me as CDC director, as a doctor, and as a parent."