The Canadian government recently updated its E-cigarette(heated tabak manufacturer) science section on its website, saying that there is evidence that E-cigarettes can help smokers quit smoking and that switching to E-cigarettes(heat not burn herbal heatsticks) completely can effectively reduce the health risks of smokers. This is in stark contrast to previous negative attitudes, which only highlighted the harmful effects of E-cigarettes.

Health Canada has been criticized by the public health community for exaggerating the dangers of E-cigarettes(new tobacco alternatives). ”The Department of Health keeps talking about the dangers of E-cigarettes without mentioning that 4.5 million smokers have the opportunity to reduce their harm by switching to E-cigarettes. This is misleading the public and abandoning the lives of millions of smokers.” Darryl Tempest, president of the Canadian E-cigarette Association, wrote in an open letter published in February 2020.

But in recent years, Health Canada has gradually changed its tune. In 2022, the official website of the Canadian government cited a number of British and American studies that recognized the harm reduction effect of E-cigarettes. In its latest update, Health Canada cites the latest Cochrane report, which states that E-cigarettes can be used to quit smoking “better than nicotine replacement therapies we have previously recommended.” Cochrane has published five reports over seven years showing that E-cigarettes are effective in quitting smoking.

The Canadian government website details the various benefits for smokers who switch to E-cigarettes: “Available evidence shows that when smokers switch completely to E-cigarettes, their exposure to harmful substances is reduced immediately and their overall health improves. There is no evidence of any adverse effects from using E-cigarettes to quit smoking, and it may also be cheaper in the long term.” In addition, Health Canada warns smokers not to use cigarettes and E-cigarettes at the same time, because “cigarette smoking is harmful to health, and only a full switch to E-cigarettes will reduce the harm.”

Foreign media reported that this means Canada will join the United Kingdom, Sweden and other countries to approve E-cigarettes. On April 11, the British government launched the world’s first “E-cigarette first” program to help 1 million British smokers quit by offering them E-cigarettes. Sweden is on course to become the first “smoke-free” country in Europe and the world, thanks to the promotion of harm reduction products such as E-cigarettes, according to a Swedish report in 2023.

“There has been significant progress in tobacco control in Canada in recent years, and government recommendations for E-cigarettes have played a key role.” ”If other countries could do the same, the global public health environment would be vastly improved,” says David Sweanor, a Canadian tobacco harm reduction expert.

“While quitting all nicotine products is best, prioritizing quitting cigarettes can significantly reduce your health risks. ”Researchers have determined that a complete switch to E-cigarettes is less harmful than continuing to smoke cigarettes, and that E-cigarettes can help you quit smoking if previous methods have failed you.” The Canadian government website says in an advisory to smokers.