CRAVING SUCCESS

Clinical trials of a brain-zapping procedure are being used to tackle smoking addiction amongst Israeli candidates. Held at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, participants are subjected to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) –a non-invasive magnetic field that stimulates regions of the brain involved in addiction. Neuroscientist Abraham Zangen led the study of 262 smokers looking to kick their deadly habit. The group was then split, with half receiving a placebo treatment that produced similar sounds and feelings. After 12 weeks, only 28 percent of the full-treatment group had quit smoking alongside 12 percent of the placebo.

THE NETHER -BANS

Initially, the Netherlands was set to ban exotic vape flavours with companies to stop production and sales by October 2023. However, this plan has since been thrown out the window… The latest news on the matter comes as quite the shock with new plans from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment detailing an extension on the cut-off. Manufacturers are now to be given an extra three months due to needing more time to prepare for the impending crackdown. The updated ban date will therefore now take effect on 1 January 2024.

5% NICOTINE

2000 PUFFS

6 ML CAPACITY

900 MAH BATTERY

5% NICOTINE

2500 PUFFS 8 ML CAPACITY

650 MAH BATTERY

The World Health Organization have sparked confusion once again with a new misinformative video.

Words: Grace Lynk

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has featured in a video where he talks about the dangers of vaping.

The public health official said: “When the tobacco industry introduced electronic cigarettes and vaping, one narrative they really tried to sell is that this is a part of harm reduction.

“It’s not true. It actually is a trap. Kids are being recruited at an early age – 10, 11, 12, to try vaping and e-cigarettes, because they think that it’s cool.”

Although it comes as no surprise that the WHO are staying true to their anti-vaping stance, advocates for the cessation tool feel as though the organisation are still spreading misinformation.

Dr Tedros went on to say: “Whether it’s an electronic cigarette or vaping, it has to be regulated. Please protect your citizens, especially children.”

Many Twitter users believe that the organisation has included the ‘children vaping’ narrative to gain sympathy for their global assault on e-cigarettes, a manipulation tactic not taken lightly on social media.

Clive Bates was among the hoard of those infuriated by the video, saying: “There you go: promoting smoking and protecting the cigarette trade.

“Misusing emotive arguments about kids from a war-on drugs playbook to support a billionairefunded moral panic to secure prohibitionist policy.”

Other users share in this frustration, including Peter Engelmann, an educationist and writer who often uses Twitter as a platform for anti-smoking promotion.

Engelmann said: “Resign from office! Because everyone who approves of Tedros’ speech and shares it is thereby in favour of tobacco cigarette consumption.

“And is indirectly responsible for the death of millions of tobacco cigarette smokers.”

Anger has been intensified by the WHO failing to acknowledge that vaping is the largest and most effective harm reduction tool on the market, opting for the opposing standpoint without evidence.

Charles A. Gardner said: “The CDCgov’s National Health Interview Survey shows 6.8 million US adult vapers have quit smoking completely. How is over 2 million future deaths-averted NOT harm reduction?”

The National Health Survey also displays statistics noting that youth smoking is currently under one percent, and youth vaping is fifty percent lower than in 2019.

The CDC have made it very clear on numerous occasions that there is a profound disconnect between public reception and the reality of vaping, using science to back their research.

A lesson learned is to take The World Health Organization’s agenda with a pinch of salt, and to turn to scientific evidence as opposed to taking their words of warning at face value.

Words: Hannah Rhodes

Badael, which means “alternative’ in Arabic, is a newly founded company owned by one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The PIF is at the centre of the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative to diversify the kingdom’s economy.

The total volume of the fund’s assets under management amounted to more than $778 billion and is expected to double by 2025.

Their latest company launch, Badael, hopes to curb the prevalence of smoking throughout Saudi Arabia through providing tobacco-free alternative products.

These products will be available by the end of 2023 and are to be manufactured within the kingdom, ‘ensuring the highest level of product quality and safety’.

The tobacco-free products are expected to aid in nearly a million current tobacco-smokers make the all-important switch by 2032, representing over 25 percent of all smokers in Saudi Arabia.

A spokesperson for PIF said: “The initiative is in line with Saudi Arabia’s focus on improving the quality of life for its citizens.”

The knock-on effect this could result in is exponential… with the nation saving more than six billion Saudi riyals on healthcare expenditure by 2032.

A spokesperson for Badael said: “Despite efforts to reduce tobacco use, the prevalence of smoking remains high...

Saudi Arabia currently hosts an estimated three million smokers, or over 11.6 percent of the population.

“By addressing this critical public health issue, we can work towards an improved quality of life and healthier lifestyles across the nation.”

With the potential promise of improved health benefits, the company is already looking to expand its products and resources to regional and international markets within the near future.