e-cigarettes: cessation device or alternative vice?

E-CIGARETTES: CESSATION DEVICE

ALTERNATIVE VICE? or

SMOKING

KILLS

The World Health Organization cites the tobacco epidemic as one of the largest public health threats the world has ever faced.

Tobacco caused 100 million deaths in the 20th century.

Based on current trends, it is predicted to kill

1 billion in the 21st. Source: World Health Organization

Of the almost

6 million tobacco-related deaths

recorded every year,

600,000 are non-smokers

exposed to second hand smoke.

Source: World Health Organization

Daunting, given the death toll from smoking is

preventable.

HELPING SMOKERS QUIT IS NOW A BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY

E-cigarettes or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) have been hailed as an aid to smoking cessation and now account for

1% of the $100 billion global tobacco market.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Though highly addictive, in terms of health risk, the effect of nicotine is considered on a par with caffeine.

Cigarettes release nicotine in

smoke containing

7,000

harmful chemicals,

around

70

of which are known to cause cancer.

Source: www.cdc.gov

E-cigarettes deliver nicotine in a vapour containing only one chemical:

propylene-glycol (PG).

PG is approved for use in food, tobacco, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products such as asthma inhalers. Hospital air is even disinfected using it. 9174592768

Source: atsdr.cdc.gov

Though generally considered safe by agencies including the FDA and ATSDR,

the long-term risks of inhaling PG are unknown.

Source: atsdr.cdc.gov

DO E-CIGARETTES REALLY HELP SMOKERS STOP?

Scientific evidence that e-cigarettes aid in quitting smoking is

inconclusive.

Many smokers

become dual-users of tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Source: Electronic Cigarettes and Conventional Cigarette Use Among US Adolescents, Dutra L et al. JAMA Pediatr. Published online March 06, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.5488

They are, however, gaining popularity: in the UK, e-cigarette use has tripled in the last two years

from 700,000 to 2.1 million users.

Source: ash.org.uk

They are, however, gaining popularity: in the UK, e-cigarette use has tripled in the last two years

from 700,000 to 2.1 million users.

Source: ash.org.uk

THE E-CIGARETTE LANDSCAPE IS RAPIDLY EVOLVING

E-cigarettes have become big business. And “big tobacco” has moved in.

Much effort has been made to de-normalise smoking in recent years, yet the design and advertising of many

mainstream e-cigarettes mimic their tobacco counterparts.

Many fear their popularity could re-glamorise smoking, enticing

new smokers or discouraging others from stopping.

“Celebrity vapers” and new “fun flavoured” e-cigarettes are drawing particular criticism from health campaigners due to their influence on teenagers.

Could big-tobacco investment be undermining the notion that e-cigarettes are devices that

aid in quitting smoking?

GOVERNMENTS ARE MOVING TO

OF E-CIGARETTES REGULATE SALES

Complete bans exist in Norway, Brazil and Singapore.

Denmark, Canada and Australia restrict imports, sales and marketing.

The UK has banned sales to under-18s and will soon regulate them.

In the U.S., they will be regulated as a tobacco product.

In New Zealand, they are regulated as medicine, available only from pharmacies.

The EU will soon follow suit for e-cigarettes containing nicotine above a certain amount.

id

It is hoped placing them behind the counter will create a barrier to entry for the

94% of smokers who start before age 25.

Source: ec.europa.eu

RECOMMENDATIONS for

LIFE/HEALTH INSURERS

More and larger long-term trials are urgently needed

Quit!

to establish whether ENDS can be effective smoking cessation aids.

All users of nicotine must be treated as smokers

regardless of the source.

For now, the issue for insurers is clear cut:

Cotinine screening (the routine test for applicants who claim to be non-smokers) cannot identify the method of nicotine intake.

Because…

Cotinine screening (the routine test for applicants who claim to be non-smokers) cannot identify the method of nicotine intake.

Because…

Individuals who remain addicted to nicotine are in danger of using tobacco.

Cotinine screening (the routine test for applicants who claim to be non-smokers) cannot identify the method of nicotine intake.

Because…

Individuals who remain addicted to nicotine are in danger of using tobacco.

It is highly plausible they will revert to smoking or become dual users.

We can help.

As e-cigarettes gain in popularity, the need to underwrite the

exposure properly is critical.

LOOKING TO DISCUSS

© 2014 General Re Corporation | This presentation is intended to provide background information to our clients and professional staff. It is time sensitive and may need to be revised and updated periodically.

ON E-CIGARETTES?

OR REVIEW

YOUR COMPANY’S POLICY

Ross Campbell

+44 20 7426 1803 ross_campbell@genre.com p

Contact us:

e

or your Gen Re representative