If you live in the United States, you know that major health organizations like the FDA and the American Lung Association aren’t exactly thrilled about the fact that vaping is becoming such a popular alternative to smoking.  Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, there’s a much friendlier view toward the industry.  In fact, the majority of the United Kingdom is so pro-vaping that a new initiative aims to help underprivileged residents have easy access to e-cigarettes in an effort to help them get off of smoking for good.

Food Banks in the UK are Giving Out E-Cigarettes to Underprivileged Residents

Hertfordshire is a region in the United Kingdom that has a large population of underprivileged citizens.  Many of these citizens are addicted to cigarettes, which is a costly and, as we all know, potentially deadly habit.  The Director of Public Health in Hertfordshire is a man named Jim McManus, and he’s particularly enthusiastic about the vaping industry being used as a means to help people kick the tobacco habit once and for all.

McManus is particularly concerned about the effects that smoking has on the health of low-income residents.  Just recently, he conducted a study to determine the way in which smoking affects the health of low-income residents compared to the health of those living above the poverty line.  Unsurprisingly, McManus’ team of researchers found that smoking negatively affects the health of low-income residents more than it does those who are financially comfortable.

So, why is that?  Well, McManus believes that it has a lot to do with the lower access to health care services that are available to those living below the poverty line.  As the Director of Public Health, McManus has a responsibility to help those in need, which is why he came up with a brilliant project that will help low-income residents stop smoking.

McManus has decided that local food banks will offer e-cigarettes in addition to food items.  McManus believes that by giving away e-cigarettes for free, it’s far more likely that low-income residents will discover that this product might be able to help them stop consuming tobacco. 

While the project is underway, McManus will be leading a team of researchers in order to replicate the study that he had performed recently, only with one major difference.  This time, he’ll be studying how vaping affects the health of low-income residents compared to those who have a more ample income.

McManus’ project has gained traction as more and more food banks in surrounding areas are jumping on board.  If the initiative is successful, we may see the majority of food banks across the United Kingdom joining in.  Considering the United Kingdom’s stance on vaping, it wouldn’t exactly come as a surprise after all.

United Kingdom’s History with Vaping

For those who don’t study international vaping news, the United Kingdom is far more supportive of the vaping industry than we are here in the United States.  Currently, Americans have to accept the fact that health organizations want nothing to do with the industry.  Regulations are constantly changing and manufacturing facilities are subjected to raids by the FDA.  Also, general practitioners are discouraged from speaking to patients about using vaping as a way to stop smoking cigarettes.

In the United Kingdom, however, laws and regulations are very lax.  This has a lot to do with a study that was performed in the UK just a few years ago.  The government had funded the study in order to compare the toxicity level of e-cigarettes to standard cigarettes.  The study found that vaping is far less harmful overall, which is why the United Kingdom adopted extremely liberal laws regarding vaping in terms of how it can be marketed, sold and consumed.

Because of the pro-vaping stance that the United Kingdom has taken, the vaping industry is massively successful over there.  Meanwhile, more and more health organizations are finding ways to integrate vaping in order to benefit the general public.

A Big Win So Far

If McManus’ initiative is successful, it can be a big win for the vaping industry as a whole.  Studies like these, help show that vaping has the potential to really help people who are hooked on cigarettes.  The study is still underway, but we look forward to hearing about its results.