2023-05-31 09:04:22
According to estimates, tobacco smoking – including passive smoking – is responsible for 16 percent of all deaths in Austria. Nevertheless, regarding every fifth person in this country reaches for a cigarette every day. In a European comparison, Austria is still above average. The alternatives to classic cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular with young people, including new dangers.
In recent years, there has been an increase to six percent (2020: two percent) in the daily or almost daily users of electronic inhalation products (e-cigarettes and tobacco heaters). 23 percent consume smoking products (cigarettes, pipes, cigars) and/or electronic inhalation products daily or almost daily. “New trends are also emerging here, the consequences of which cannot yet be assessed. In the last 30 days, five percent of 15 to 34 year olds have used tobacco heaters and four percent nicotine pouches,” said Martin Busch from the Addiction Competence Center in a GÖG broadcast . Although such products might represent an exit aid, they might also promote the entry into search-related behavior.
Young people are also increasingly using nicotine pouches, also known as nicotine pouches, nic bags or nicotine lollipops. They are placed in the oral cavity and release nicotine. “Many young people are of the opinion that this is a harmless alternative to cigarettes. But that is by no means the case,” warned Brigit Satke, head of the 147 emergency number at Rat auf Wire.
Although nicotine pouches do not contain tobacco like “snus” – which cannot be sold in Austria – they can, according to the expert, “be just as addictive”. The body absorbs a lot of nicotine with one of these bags, which are worn between the gums and the upper or lower lip for ten to 60 minutes, often much more than with a cigarette, which can lead to overdose and symptoms of poisoning. In the long term, the risk of lung cancer, heart attack or respiratory diseases increases, albeit to a lesser extent than from smoking, says Satke. In addition, there are the classic effects of nicotine such as a quick habituation effect, rapid dependency, withdrawal symptoms and an increased risk of thrombosis.
Every tenth person over the age of 15 has made an unsuccessful attempt to quit smoking in the past twelve months. “About half of those who smoke every day or almost every day would like to stop smoking,” said Busch. But more than half of the smokers have never heard of the “smoke-free telephone”, although its number has appeared on all cigarette packs since 2016.
“After the smoking ban in gastronomy, the next logical step is the smoking ban in the Schanigarten to protect non-smokers,” said Erik Randall Huber, chairman of the curia for resident doctors and vice-president of the Vienna Medical Association. “There are 230 resident doctors in Vienna who have a smoking cessation certificate and can provide expert assistance when people want to quit smoking,” added Kambiz Modarressy, deputy head of the general medicine section in the chamber. In general medicine, however, this service is “currently not rewarded”. For lung specialists, there is the position “smoking advice with the aim of giving up smoking”, but a maximum of 20 percent of cases can be charged per quarter due to a cap. “This is an abstruse and completely unworldly regulation when you know that patients often have to be accompanied for several months in order for the exit to work,” criticized Huber.
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