Free vapes, $500k deal, questions over risks: Inside Health NZ’s new vape plan
Health NZ is providing free vapes to smokers through a $500k deal, sparking debate over potential health risks and effectiveness.Summary
Health NZ has begun a widespread rollout of free vaping devices and refills to aid smokers in quitting, distributing over 7,000 devices and 67,000 refills in two months. A $500,000 contract was awarded to Alt NZ Limited, a New Zealand-owned vape company, to supply the devices in flavors like tobacco and peach mint. This initiative follows a pilot program with limited success, where 3,000 people received kits and just over 1,400 quit smoking. While Health NZ highlights the PR benefits and cost-effectiveness of the deal—significantly cheaper than the previous pilot—concerns have been raised by health professionals. The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation argues that vaping, while less harmful than smoking, is still a drug with unknown long-term effects and advocates for nicotine replacement therapies as a first resort. Some GPs also express caution, emphasizing the need for more evidence before widely distributing flavored nicotine vapes funded by taxpayers.
(Source：Newstalkzb)
