Banning smoking

[lowlandLucky]

Listening to JV and they are discussing if they should ban smoking and vaping during this pandemic. They are suggesting that smokers go cold turkey ? A doctor on the panel has just said that if it came down to it and there was only 1 ventilator left the non smoker would get it. If they are expecting smokers to give up their addiction at the drop of the hat, would IBU to expect the Heroin,cocaine, cannabis etc users to do the same and would IBU to expect Chemists to stop giving out free Methadone. I am not a smoker BTW

It would be pointless in that scenario anyway. If there was 1 ventilator and the smoker had given up 2 or 6 weeks ago the non smoker (assuming all else is equal) would still stand a better chance and so would still get the ventilator.

I'm a non smoker. I quit with a vape and still use a vape. It's the same as using a nicotine replacement patch so then you're in to not treating people who have given up smoking but are using a patch
Same with heroin, people who use methadone

would IBU to expect the Heroin,cocaine, cannabis etc users to do the same

Cannabis can be - and frequently is - eaten rather than smoked. Many cannabis users are non-smokers.

Is jv Jeremy vine? Are you seriously suggesting that his radio talk shows is what the government basis their decisions on or has any basis in reality other than some talking heads being paid for their opinions?

Tell me it’s not Jeremy vine? Right?

I’m not sure what methadone prescription has to do with smoking

Tbh, the thought of quitting while I’m stuck at home in isolation with my children for an indefinite period of time scares the shit out of me. I know it’s probably the best time to quit, with no social gatherings to make me feel like one etc, but it still scares me.

I’m currently writing this from the bathroom where I came to get five minutes peace, and I can still hear one of my children incessantly calling me. I feel like the 5 minutes at a time I go outside to smoke may be the only thing that saves my sanity.

Yeah that'll calm everything down.

@ClientQueen vaping still does damage to your lungs, it’s not the same as using a patch.

The thing about not treating smokers/capers is that they are less likely to benefit from the treatment. As far as I am aware things like methadone don’t have much of an effect on your ability to recover from respiratory illness?

It's 95% safer than smoking and there's no great evidence regarding the lung damage unless you are vaping vitamin E or not regulated products like happened in america
I had a major operation and the anaesthetist and surgeon were quite happy I vaped, let me out before my op to vape and had no issues with it. They said smoking was another matter

@ClientQueen iota definitely better than smoking but it’s still going to do damage just from the heat alone. Unless your holding it in your mouth and waiting for it to cool in which case the damage will be limited to your mouth.

Funny the only time I had my one any only chest infection was when I had been using a vape

A doctor on the panel has just said that if it came down to it and there was only 1 ventilator left the non smoker

Yeah, and what about all the people that smoke but hide it from the GP, or the people who have just given up and haven't yet told their GP...? Many people have already given up due to self isolation.

What about social smokers? Many doctors smoke socially, I bet it is not on their NHS records that they do so.

It would be pointless in that scenario anyway. If there was 1 ventilator and the smoker had given up 2 or 6 weeks ago the non smoker (assuming all else is equal) would still stand a better chance and so would still get the ventilator

This!
I'm a smoker. Yes, in the long term this has made me think more about my smoking. But giving up right this instant is going to make no difference in terms of CV/treatment. All it will do is send me completely over the edge in an already stressful time.

definitely better than smoking but it’s still going to do damage just from the heat alone. Unless your holding it in your mouth and waiting for it to cool in which case the damage will be limited to your mouth.

What utter rubbish.

There is no heat from the vapour in vaping. It's cool by the time you inhale it! The comparison to methadone above was, I believe, because they are both addictions, and the PP was wondering whether it would be reasonable to ask anyone with an addiction - no matter the means of delivery - to stop cold turkey.

How would they enforce this though?

So then should they not treat diabetics who developed the illness through gross miss management of their diet and way of living?
If they need to choose, they’d probably choose based on best chance of survival with least long term ill effects. Regardless of life choices.
Anyway, if There will be shortage of cigarettes, people will simply have to go cold turkey.
Ex smoker here btw

Bluntness100 Yes it was the Jeremy Vine show on ch5, no i dont hope the Government base their decisions on his mutterings

I quit smoking (no vape) almost 2 years ago and, booooy, am I glad I did.
Vapers and smokers will be considered the same in this btw, to those stating vaping is perfectly fine - of course it bloody isn't. It's still damaging your lungs!

The last thing we need right now is loads of people going cold turkey whilst isolated. The rise in domestic violence would be dreadful to start with. But of course if they need to prioritise PPE for frontline staff, food, medicines and baby formula that's what they will have to do. I think NRT should be offered where possible though.

Sounds good to me. Oh and tests can be done to establish if people are smokers or non-smokers if it needs clarifying

btw, to those stating vaping is perfectly fine - of course it bloody isn't. It's still damaging your lungs!

Not necessarily, the science hasn't been able to demonstrate this, hence the 95 percent reduced risk as advised by PHE, Cancer Research et Al.

I think it's a whole load of scaremongering.
They can't expect people to give up smoking especially now as for some it's a stress reliever.
I don't smoke but I don't agree with the constant talks about who will get ventilators and who will not. I think it's pointless scaremongering.
Some people are already locked up in their homes with the TV their source of 'entertainment' they don't need to be scared like that. People's MH is the highest priority during these times and we need to keep people as 'sane' if not for better words as possible.

I’m not a smoker but I have great sympathy for people in your situation @ThisIsReallyShit. It’s tough to quit at any time, let alone when you are so stressed.

I’m using my time in self isolation to read Easyway. I thought it’s worth a try while stuck at home.