Flavorings are important for anti-smoking

05.10.2024
#industry news

Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos has released a new updated review of his report "The Case for Flavorings in Reducing Tobacco Harm," originally published in 2022.

The report includes the latest research on the use of flavorings in electronic cigarettes. The data confirm the already known facts: flavored vaping is not associated with the onset of smoking among young people. But at the same time it affects the increase in the number of quitting smoking among adults.

The debate about e-cigarettes and flavored liquids seems to have reached a climax. In the midst of the controversy, Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos, a renowned researcher in the field of tobacco harm reduction, presents a detailed and well-founded argument for the use of flavors in these products.

In his multifaceted review, "Arguments in Favor of Flavorings in Reducing Tobacco Harm," Farsalinos addresses a fundamental issue. It is overlooked by many politicians and public health experts: flavorings in e-cigarette liquids are not only an attractive component, but also a vital tool for smokers to help break the habit of combustible cigarettes.

In his argument, he examines in detail the role of flavorings in electronic cigarettes, technically known as electronic nicotine delivery vehicles (EDS). According to Farsalinos, flavors are a crucial factor in the user experience of using these devices.

"Access to a variety of flavors is the key to making e—cigarettes more attractive to smokers who want to quit," he explains, citing research. They show that e-cigarette users often start with tobacco flavors. But as they switch from cigarettes to vaping, they tend more and more towards sweet or fruity flavors.

The Greek doctor and researcher also claims that banning flavorings can have unintended negative consequences. This is because smokers looking for a less harmful alternative to combustible tobacco may refuse to use e-cigarettes if they do not find a pleasant option. In this regard, Farsalinos warns that "taste restriction will force many e-cigarette users to return to tobacco, which may negate many years of progress in the fight against smoking."

The use of flavorings is also associated with higher rates of success in quitting smoking. According to Farsalinos, several studies have shown that users who prefer fruity or sweet flavors are more likely to quit smoking cigarettes than those who adhere to tobacco flavors.

"Fragrances are not just a frivolous addition. And an important component of successful harm reduction and the transition of smokers to less harmful alternatives."

A large cross-sectional study conducted under the leadership of Farsalinos himself showed that during the period of quitting smoking, fruit flavors were most often used, not tobacco. The study involved 69,233 people over the age of 18 who used e-cigarettes and answered questions from an online questionnaire. Their smoker status and the nature of the use of e-cigarette flavors were recorded at baseline during the survey and when quitting smoking (for those who stopped using e-cigarettes).

The results showed that:

• The most popular flavors when starting to use e-cigarettes were fruity (82.8%). These are followed by desserts/cookies (68.6%) and sweets/chocolate (52.2%).

• Tobacco flavors were used less frequently (20.8%). This is especially true among those who have never smoked before.

• At the time of the survey, the use of tobacco flavors had further decreased (7.7%). And only 2.1% used them as their main flavor.

• Among former smokers, fruits (83.3%) became the most common taste when quitting smoking, followed by desserts/pastries (68.0%) and sweets/chocolate (44.5%).

• Only 15% of the tobacco flavor was used. And only 9.3% found it useful when quitting smoking.

The general conclusion is that non-tobacco flavors were popular among adult smokers. And these same scents were especially useful when quitting smoking. The use of tobacco flavors was negligible and decreased over time. This suggests that regulators should take into account the taste preferences of adult consumers when adopting laws on flavored electronic cigarettes. Especially those who quit smoking.

These results highlight that having different flavors not only improves the user experience, but also contributes to greater consistency in the smoking cessation process.

Despite the obvious benefits of flavorings for harm reduction and smoking cessation, the scientist is concerned about the recent policies of a number of countries to limit or ban flavorings in e-cigarette liquids.

Countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States are considering or have already introduced restrictions on flavorings. This is done in order to prevent young people from becoming involved in vaping. Although Farsalinos recognizes the need to protect young people, he also urges not to sacrifice the opportunity to save the millions of lives of adults who use these products to quit smoking.

In his review, Farsalinos emphasizes that the problem is not the flavors themselves, but how they are regulated. He proposes not to introduce complete bans, but to adopt a policy that would regulate the access of minors without depriving them of the most important tool for quitting smoking.

As a result, Farsalinos proposes a balanced, evidence-based strategy that takes into account both the need to protect young people and the importance of providing adult smokers with all available tools to quit smoking. With careful and informed regulation, flavorings in e-cigarettes can be the key to radically reducing tobacco-related deaths in the 21st century.

Source:

belvaping.com