My Name is Dave
The views of a E-cig consumer
Dave Dorn was invited to New Zealand by Marewa Glover to give more information and clarification around e-cigarettes. Dave is a member of the ‘New Nicotine Alliance UK’ and a producer and presenter of ‘Vapourtrails TV’, an online show. He is a reformed smoker who believes that vaping had contributed hugely to him quitting. His visit to NZ was self-funded. Dave stated that he is in no way associated with the tobacco industry, and that he would never take funding from them. He also declared he would never take any money from the health sector either, as he wants to be seen as totally independent of both sides
He has used e-cigarette business advertising on some of his vaping promotional work - to help with the cost of production, but he will not be doing this in the future as he believes it blocks people from looking at vaping’s potential and creates suspicion.
What motivates Dave?
Dave admits his original ambition around vaping was not about quitting. Rather he found that vaping products were easier and more efficient. At the time he was able to vape in an empty corner of the office. He also found that where a smoker is obliged to use the whole cigarette, vaping merely requires you to have a few puffs, then a return to work. Dual use was part of his early vaping experience, however one day he left his tobacco on the kitchen bench and never picked the packet up again and has been tobacco free ever since.
Dave believes vaping should be regulated to ensure quality of product. Hardware and atomizers should comply with a set of safety standards. E-liquid should be labeled clearly stating nicotine quality (he suggests between 5ml/mg - 10ml/mg, don’t need to go any higher when the vaping machine is a quality device that delivers nicotine effectively). Dave also thinks there should be a black list of bad e-liquid flavours (there are some that are known to be dangerous).
In the UK he estimated that the average age of a person vaping was 25- and older. A small percentage of youth are trying it out, but mostly older people. Not many young people maintain a vaping status, they seem to try it out but not continue with it. Dave also shared that he would rather young people turn to vaping than cigarettes.
Dave believes it would be good for the health sector to listen more to the stories of people quitting through vaping. It is the missing part of the discussion. He has come to NZ to share UK vaping stories to try and help New Zealand be more open to a product that could help those who currently “love” smoking (like he did once) actually quit.
Currently within the tobacco control sector E-Cigarettes are extremely controversial and support for and against seems to be firmly split down the middle. Judging by the increased use worldwide, it is inevitable that the New Zealand consumer will follow suit. With this in mind the pro E-cig groups and the anti-E-cig groups will need to sit at the table and formulate something palatable for both camps. Quit coaches will tell you that our whānau who are contemplating quitting are enquiring about them and with limited information available, they are forced to pursue that information and perhaps misinformation on their own accord.
** Dave’s views are not necessarily the views of Te Ara Hā Ora. Te Ara Hā Ora are committed to sharing the views of current and ex-smokers
