Latif E, Nair M
Department of Tobacco Control, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Edinburgh, UK.
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2016 Nov;20(11):1430-1435. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.16.0524.
The unregulated market for e-cigarettes continues to grow, with debates on their efficacy and impact on global public health. E-cigarettes, or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDs), are marketed as a 'safe' alternative to tobacco products and a tool for 'harm reduction'. Some public health experts are calling it a 'game changer' and favour the 'harm reduction' strategy, while others dispute this claim. In our opinion, the debate needs to be broadened to encompass other related concerns and effects on non-users and affected stakeholders. As with tobacco control, a holistic approach is needed to build a raft of policies that effectively address the issue from all angles and look beyond the direct health implications of e-cigarette use to explore the social, economic, political and environmental aspects of this debate, putting 'harm reduction' in context.
电子烟不受监管的市场持续增长，围绕其功效以及对全球公共卫生的影响存在诸多争论。电子烟，即电子尼古丁传送系统（ENDS），作为烟草制品的“安全”替代品以及“减少危害”的工具进行销售。一些公共卫生专家称其为“变革者”并支持“减少危害”策略，而另一些人则对这一说法提出质疑。我们认为，这场辩论需要扩大范围，纳入其他相关问题以及对非使用者和受影响利益相关者的影响。与烟草控制一样，需要采取整体方法来制定一系列政策，从各个角度有效解决该问题，不仅要关注电子烟使用的直接健康影响，还要探讨这场辩论的社会、经济、政治和环境方面，将“减少危害”置于相应背景中。
