The battle over the use of electronic devices

The use of e-cigarettes as an alternative to reducing global tobacco consumption is a heated debate, and Panama was at the epicenter of it last week.

Until Saturday, the country hosted the Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (COP10), which brought together representatives from more than 180 countries.

For the deputy health minister of Panama, Ivette Berrío, these products are a nuisance that represents the tobacco industry and that they represent “one of the biggest obstacles to the effective implementation” of the framework agreement to reduce smoking.

Berrío spoke on behalf of the countries of Latin America, which presented an agreement proposal.

There is a “fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the tobacco industry and the interests of public health policy,” the deputy minister added, as quoted by digital magazine Strategies & Negocios (E&N).

Panama, which has been a benchmark in tightening anti-cigarette laws, sanctioned Law 315 in 2022, which bans the marketing of tobacco products that include electronic cigarettes and cigar devices. The restriction extends to places where smoking is prohibited.

At the regional level, 21 countries regulate these devices, while 8, including Panama, have banned their sale. The other seven are Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.’

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Last year, the e-cigarette business made $1 billion.

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carcinogenic substances, apart from nicotine, these devices have according to the study.

As a result, Panama is facing a fight against cigarette smuggling, with a huge black market leading the charge of goods being smuggled in and sold on the streets of our cities.

Alejo Campos, Crime Stoppers regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, revealed that 95% of the cigarette trade in Panama is illegal.

“And that illegally collected money goes directly to the criminal structures that operate here in Panama, which are the same ones that later deal with the issue of drug trafficking,” said the expert.

He added that for each container with these illegal goods, the charge for these criminal organizations is one million dollars.

On the other hand, there are sectors that claim that there are no definitive studies that prove the harmful effects of vapers on human health.

Moreover, they suggest them as an alternative for people to get rid of tobacco addiction.

In parallel with the COP 10 summit, the second Latin American forum Nicotine and Risk Reduction: Science, Regulation and Activism was held in the country on February 6, where the key role of reduced-risk alternatives in the fight against smoking is played.

They discussed how alternatives such as electronic cigarettes can significantly contribute to reducing the harm of smoking.

In contrast, it has been observed that in those countries that have banned e-cigarettes, there has been an increase in illegal trade and limited opportunities for smokers to access safer alternatives.

“Their ban not only prevents smokers from accessing safer alternatives, but also encourages the black market and facilitates access to these products for minors, and the other negative consequences this entails,” explained Rafael Lara Liy, director of the non-profit organization Rauder. an organization that strives to spread and defend human rights.

For her part, Mariana Hoyo, a participant in the panel of doctors at the forum, commented that, as health professionals, it is their duty to update, analyze, understand and question the evidence, but they must also adopt an attitude of empathy towards patients who strive to improve their health.

“We have to consider alternatives that reduce the risks. This is the basis of a therapeutic alliance that really helps the person, not stigmatizes him, but tries to alleviate his condition,” said the doctor.

These groups also have their own studies that seek to confirm that the use of these devices results in a significant reduction in smoking rates.

They referred to one conducted in Sweden which in just 15 years reduced the smoking rate from 15% to 5.6% and achieved a mortality rate from smoking-related diseases 39.6% lower than the European Union average.

The forum concluded with a manifesto calling on Latin American governments to lift bans and develop regulatory frameworks based on scientific evidence.

“Our goal is to ensure that adult smokers have access to less harmful alternatives, as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the impact of smoking on public health and to make our voice heard,” said Rafael Lara, director of Rauder.