A Response to the CDPH's Anti E-Cig Campaign from Florida Based Electronic Cigarette Company Totally Wicked

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Jan 21, 2015, 08:45 ET

BRADENTON, Fla., Jan. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Totally Wicked is both saddened and dismayed at the extent of what appears to be a deliberate misinformation and smearing campaign against electronic cigarettes by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)[1].

The CDPH's most recent campaign has been written in a way that appears to be designed to spread fear about a product that in reality is moving millions globally away from the harms of tobacco smoke. If embraced, e-cigarettes could be a valuable tool in the arsenal to eradicate smoking. But instead of looking at electronic cigarettes through the eyes of science, the CDPH is looking at it through ideology, and as a result is causing confusion, and in some cases could be preventing many from switching from tobacco to a much less harmful alternative.

To counter their points one by one, Totally Wicked have provided some science to balance the CDPH's campaign.

E-cigarettes do not cause harm to bystanders, and the levels of toxins are of a magnitude smaller than found in tobacco cigarettes. Totally Wicked refer the reader to this research critique of the Schripp study that looked at 'passive vaping'[2].

Clive Bates former head of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), has described the concern regarding the particulates in the aerosol from e-cigarettes as a 'crude scientific sleight of hand'. The facts and a full explanation of this, and commentary upon what has been found in e-cigarette aerosol can be found here, [3] and here [4]

There is no evidence that e-cigarettes lead to smoking, but in fact do help people to cut down the amount they smoke, as can be found in this Cochrane Review. [5] Similar findings have also been reported in the Journal of Addiction. [6]

E-cigarettes are not a gateway to smoking, as has been consistently proven and exemplified by the Smoking Tool Kit from the UK. [7]

There is very little evidence of people swallowing their e-cigarette batteries. Due care must be taken with all batteries, no matter what product they are found in.

CDPH should, instead of spreading fear, read all the recent research regarding e-cigarettes and review their strategy accordingly. If the CDPH truly is motivated by safe-guarding public health, then they are obligated not only by this mandate but also its fundamental accountability as an public body to communicate the facts as they exist regarding e-cigarettes, and not knowingly mislead and misinform with campaigns designed to scare, instead of educate.

As Professor West, Professor of Health Psychology at University College London has stated, "It is not clear whether long-term use of e-cigarettes carries health risks but from what is known about the contents of the vapor these will be much less than from smoking."

Contact:
Stacey Cropper
941 870 9048
Email
www.totallywicked-eliquid.com

[1] http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/tobacco/Documents/Resources/Fact%20Sheets/E_Cigs_Brochure_English%20102914.pdf

[2] http://antithrlies.com/2012/09/05/the-passive-vaping-fable/

[3] http://www.clivebates.com/?p=2523

[4] http://www.ecigarette-research.com/web/index.php/2013-04-07-09-50-07/2014/184-passive-vape

[5] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub2/abstract

[6] http://www.addictionjournal.org/press-releases/e-cigarette-use-for-quitting-smoking-is-associated-with-improved-success-rates-

[7] http://www.smokinginengland.info/latest-statistics/

SOURCE Totally Wicked