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meow2u3

(24,745 posts)
129. Public health authorities and agencies seem to use double standards against vapor products
Sat Aug 22, 2015, 01:52 PM
Aug 2015
Condoms Vs. E-Cigs and The Public Health Double Standard

Imagine it’s 1987. The HIV epidemic is in full swing; tens of thousands of adult men and woman’s immune systems are starting to wear down. Public health is in a major crisis. They know that unprotected sex is risky with multiple partners, after all this is something that doesn’t just affect one person it affects those you have sex with, and this has facilitated a nearly meteoric rise of dying HIV patients. They also know that people being people will not just stop having sex. Not only that but human beings for the most part will not have sex with only one partner during their lifetime. They need something, anything that can help slow down this epidemic. They need a stopgap of sorts. If sex is legal and humans won’t stop having sex maybe they’ll be smarter about the sex they’ll have. Enter into the equation condoms.

Condoms aren’t entirely safe. They can break, rip, tear and they do not protect you 100%. However, they protect you better than no protection at all. Imagine now if you will that there is a public health debate (actually this existed at the time). One of the most well-known and well-respected HIV researchers is at the table. He brings up condom use and HIV. He then proceeds to say this, “We know condoms are safer than unprotected sex, but it’s not 100% safe. Wearing a condom is like jumping from a five-story building instead of a 50-foot building. Sure it’s safer but it still has risks, that is why I can not support promoting condom use for the public having sex”. Imagine if the World Health Organization released a statement saying, “Condoms have not gone through clinical trials in regards to HIV, therefore condom use is just as unsafe as sex without condoms”. Imagine if the answer to the problem of HIV was abstinence and waiting. Of course, in theory, it’s the best stance to protect yourself 100%, but in reality it doesn’t work. It’s been proven over and over again.

Thankfully, most health officials didn’t take on that stance during the HIV epidemic. They understood you had to use every tool in the toolbox to save as many human lives as possible. They understood that sex is going to happen. Sadly though there seems to be a double standard when it comes to cigarette smoking. We know that humans like to smoke. They’ve smoked different substances for hundreds of thousands of years. From cave man to billionaire, smoking has been there. Like sex with multiple partners, smoking seems to be a risk we as humans enjoy taking. For health officials, cigarette smoking is an even bigger epidemic than HIV. However, unlike with HIV many health officials around the world refuse to use every tool in the toolbox when it comes to smoking.

Case in point, e-cigs. If you ask most public health officials particularly here in the USA you’ll the same response. E-cigs are undoubtedly safer than cigarettes, they’ll usually admit that much. However, they will say we just don’t have enough information on them and they have a nagging suspicion they aren’t as safe as they appear. For public health officials the mantra ‘quit or die’ is very real. Much like the mantra of many advocates against sex education or condom distribution it’s, ‘have sex with more than one partner and risk death’. With opposition to condom use and birth control these people tend to be driven by a moral issue with sex. This type of thinking usual irks and annoys public health officials. Scientist and public health officials say abstinence only advocates can’t see the forest for the trees on this issue. People have and always will engage in risky sex.

That’s why it’s so shocking that with e-cigs the issue public health has a problem with most seems to be a moral one. These public health officials outright say they do not want to renormalize smoking. They do not want to create a new generation of smokers using e-cigs. Think about this, they’re saying they it has nothing to do with e-cigs being safe or unsafe. They simply do not want someone simply using a product for the sake of enjoyment. Sounds a little familiar to those who simply oppose sex doesn’t it?


https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/condoms-vs-e-cigs-public-healths-double-standard-jonathan-burger?trk=hp-feed-article-title-publish

This guy just said what I've been trying in vain to explain for months: why is condom use OK among liberals to prevent the spread of STD's and HIV, but it's not OK for smokers to switch to vapor products? Tobacco control puritans are treating vapers like religious absolutist treat people who have sex for fun.
This is very good news...they're safe in public Oilwellian Aug 2015 #1
2 years! You are doing great. Congrats. Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #5
Thank you Oilwellian Aug 2015 #16
Same Here! Newest Reality Aug 2015 #27
The first time I went to the grocery store Aerows Aug 2015 #80
Me either Aerows Aug 2015 #62
Same here. 4 1/2 years cigarette free thanks to evaping. OregonBlue Aug 2015 #76
I know quite a few people who have managed to taper down Warpy Aug 2015 #55
I think this confirms what many of us already knew. beevul Aug 2015 #2
2 years, 7 months is awesome. Congrats. Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #4
Me too!!! Drifter Aug 2015 #9
Pfffft! That's just like, anecdotal, man. NBachers Aug 2015 #127
7.5 months smoke free thanks to vaping. Already down to between 6mg and 3mg nicotine juice. Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #3
There is a significant streak of prohibitionism within modern liberal thought. Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #7
I am a liberal who has no problem with vaping. ladyVet Aug 2015 #104
Public health authorities and agencies seem to use double standards against vapor products meow2u3 Aug 2015 #129
As it is with most prohibitions. Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #130
A year and 9 months smoke-free for me, thanks to vaping meow2u3 Aug 2015 #31
I agree, of all the things in this world to go after, it had to be vaping. Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #36
It's money. Aerows Aug 2015 #63
Oh yeah, I talk to people online who are stockpiling liters of nic in their freezer. Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #64
These guys have liters of nic on sale meow2u3 Aug 2015 #69
I'll have to leave that to the pros. What little DIY I do is with nic base from Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #107
I used to get unflavored nic base there, too meow2u3 Aug 2015 #113
My absolute favorite Aerows Aug 2015 #79
I just got a couple bottles from them in the mail today. GEJ makes some amazing juice! Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #106
I've tried Patriot and have a bottle of Wild Turkey Aerows Aug 2015 #114
Some of us nonsmokers are very much on your side and will squawk about tblue37 Aug 2015 #89
Thank you we need allies like you. Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #110
I think vaping is a good alternative, and shouldn't be restricted like cigs, but Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #70
Yes, they are. Liberal Veteran Aug 2015 #75
I have a hypothesis about why Big Tobacco Mariana Aug 2015 #78
No, you don't Aerows Aug 2015 #81
I think you are absolutely right. I encourage my friends who smoke to switch to e-cigs, but tblue37 Aug 2015 #91
I believe that vaping also allows smokers to enjoy the comforting physical process tblue37 Aug 2015 #94
I believe that vaping also allows smokers to enjoy the comforting physical process tblue37 Aug 2015 #94
Over four months thanks to ecigarettes Aerows Aug 2015 #6
Awesome. Vape On, Vaper! Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #38
Woo-hoo! Congratulations! nt tblue37 Aug 2015 #92
E-cigs are life savers for a lot of longterm smokers. tblue37 Aug 2015 #8
It did work for me once too! I think there is something almost hypnotic about bettyellen Aug 2015 #11
But not longterm? nt tblue37 Aug 2015 #12
For many years. Thinking of rereading now. bettyellen Aug 2015 #13
One of my friends is 2 years cig free now, the other just over one year. tblue37 Aug 2015 #88
Interesting! I had no cravings for years too. But I seem to relapse in extreme stress. Regarding bettyellen Aug 2015 #98
I used the Carr method. Starry Messenger Aug 2015 #86
Was it as sudden and effective as it was for my friends? For them success was immediate. nt tblue37 Aug 2015 #96
It was. Starry Messenger Aug 2015 #100
Wonderful--especially since the effect seems to have been permanent for you. nt tblue37 Aug 2015 #101
4 years, 8 months BumRushDaShow Aug 2015 #10
Wow Cal Carpenter Aug 2015 #14
I support ecigs where ever smoking is allowed. Nt Logical Aug 2015 #15
A year and a half without the stinkies thanks to my Provari Mini. U4ikLefty Aug 2015 #17
I got on iTazte VTR a few weeks ago awoke_in_2003 Aug 2015 #19
I'm upgrading from an Itazte MVP 20W to a Kanger KBOX meow2u3 Aug 2015 #68
Great idea Aerows Aug 2015 #82
Glad you asked awoke_in_2003 Aug 2015 #112
LOL so we are both in the dark. Aerows Aug 2015 #117
I have been vaping lately awoke_in_2003 Aug 2015 #18
All I can say is I'm very, very happy for everyone here that has stopped smoking! herding cats Aug 2015 #20
+ a brazillion! nt tblue37 Aug 2015 #97
Good. Can we put to bed the second hand vapor argument now? Juicy_Bellows Aug 2015 #21
Yes, they cough when they SEE one. Mariana Aug 2015 #23
Very true. Juicy_Bellows Aug 2015 #34
Good point. Vaping has improved the tech for marijuana use. Looking into it... Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #71
Please let me know if I can be of any assistance. Juicy_Bellows Aug 2015 #74
I am reminded of the Hope/Cosby "road" movie (Road to Morocco?) when Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #99
Please, let's quit equating vapor with smoke meow2u3 Aug 2015 #26
Wait, hold on. LeftyMom Aug 2015 #32
If that chain smoker was a chain vaper you wouldn't have had to do that. Juicy_Bellows Aug 2015 #35
Yeah, but that poster was talking about cig smoking in the same breath. LeftyMom Aug 2015 #44
On that, we agree. Juicy_Bellows Aug 2015 #45
There is more often than not a pleasant odor from e-cig vapor meow2u3 Aug 2015 #67
I was just reading about the study that says sugary drinks are not bad for you CBGLuthier Aug 2015 #22
Would you rather people continue to smoke Mariana Aug 2015 #24
Yes, I have a problem with that. A slave is a slave. CBGLuthier Aug 2015 #25
"You quit nothing when you still use by ecigs." beevul Aug 2015 #28
Some people, including many ex-smokers Mariana Aug 2015 #40
That's interesting laundry_queen Aug 2015 #56
I can't think of any other possible reason Mariana Aug 2015 #58
Agreed. It's not rational. nt laundry_queen Aug 2015 #66
Hmmm Newest Reality Aug 2015 #30
Notice the rage in that post. Mariana Aug 2015 #42
If I had never smoked or vaped, I would be glad for all the vapers quitting cigs. Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #43
I smoked for many years, and then I vaped. Mariana Aug 2015 #47
Sorry to hear that... Newest Reality Aug 2015 #49
You didn't even read my post. Mariana Aug 2015 #37
Why can't smoking be enjoyable? Politicalboi Aug 2015 #53
Don't forget: Flavors = Enticing children. Liberal Veteran Aug 2015 #61
Such drama Oilwellian Aug 2015 #73
Most vapor products have nothing to do with tobacco companies meow2u3 Aug 2015 #29
Having to monitor and taper your dose is addiction. LeftyMom Aug 2015 #33
Its all the same is it? beevul Aug 2015 #39
Yes, and tapering off is a valid way to eliminate an addiction. Mariana Aug 2015 #41
The poster is denying that it's addiction at all because they can taper. LeftyMom Aug 2015 #46
Addiction from nicotine via vape is on par with caffeine addiction, not cigarette addiction. beevul Aug 2015 #50
Ah, may I ask... Newest Reality Aug 2015 #51
Fair questions. Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #72
There is a difference between addiction and dependency meow2u3 Aug 2015 #48
24 to 6! That's fantastic! Mariana Aug 2015 #52
There seems to be a visceral hatred of, and bigotry against, nicotine use meow2u3 Aug 2015 #54
The only way to be 100% nicotine free is never to smoke tobacco or.... Liberal Veteran Aug 2015 #59
I think they don't like that people are stopping smoking Mariana Aug 2015 #60
It sure as hell IS a moral panic meow2u3 Aug 2015 #65
…"it's unbefitting a liberal to attack people who've quit smoking by vaping instead." MrMickeysMom Aug 2015 #85
Vaping saved my life meow2u3 Aug 2015 #90
I'm not sure who's telling you to make that choice… It's certainly not me... MrMickeysMom Aug 2015 #102
K&R nt Live and Learn Aug 2015 #57
We still need to regulate this stuff.. MrMickeysMom Aug 2015 #77
Would you rather treat Aerows Aug 2015 #83
Because there isn't any data to even answer that question, I'll take a crack at it... MrMickeysMom Aug 2015 #84
"gateway to cigarette smoking" beevul Aug 2015 #93
I said that, not the DEA… MrMickeysMom Aug 2015 #103
"But, I'm GUESSING that one habit would also follow the other." U4ikLefty Aug 2015 #108
I think there ARE no experts on vaping... MrMickeysMom Aug 2015 #115
You still have provided no evidence to your silly assertions. U4ikLefty Aug 2015 #126
I don't see how it would be a gateway to smoking. Liberal Veteran Aug 2015 #111
Placing tobacco and vaping on equal ground is the point... MrMickeysMom Aug 2015 #116
I think it depends on the regulation you are referring to. Liberal Veteran Aug 2015 #118
??? MrMickeysMom Aug 2015 #119
What I am saying is that in a nearly a decade, the only real problems that have existed with e-cigs Liberal Veteran Aug 2015 #120
Thank you... MrMickeysMom Aug 2015 #124
I'm well aware of that. beevul Aug 2015 #125
What are the negative effects of inhaling propylene glycol? Mariana Aug 2015 #87
Here is a study that tells you why you're breathing better Oilwellian Aug 2015 #105
Yes, that's a study (N = 3) MrMickeysMom Aug 2015 #122
My cough went away during the first week vaping. How's that for respiratory therapy? Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #109
Very good to hear - I've worried a bit about it bhikkhu Aug 2015 #121
I have not picked up a cigarette since the day I got my vape pen Marrah_G Aug 2015 #123
Let the prejudice stop now get the red out Aug 2015 #128
Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2019 #131
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