VAPING SAVING LIVES AND MONEY - OTAGO UNIVERSITY
A new study has found billions of dollars will be saved if e-cigarettes remain freely available.
The University of Otago study shows liberalising the rules around vaping products has led to a gain of 236,000 life years for the general population, and savings of $3.4 billion in the health system over their newly extended lifespans.
"This is a sizeable gain in health for the New Zealand population and also an important benefit in terms of lower health costs," said lead author Dr Frederieke Petrović-van der Deen.
The research suggested it will have the same effect on public health as 15 years of 10 percent excise tax increases.