Latest news with #RyanCourtney
UPI
4 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Vaping better at helping smokers quit, study finds
Six-month smoking abstinence rates were three times higher among people using flavored nicotine-laced vape devices, compared to those given nicotine gum or lozenges, researchers reported Monday. Photo by lexphumirat/ Pixabay July 14 (UPI) -- Vaping might be more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies in helping people quit smoking, a new Australian study says. Six-month smoking abstinence rates were three times higher among people using flavored nicotine-laced vape devices, compared to those given nicotine gum or lozenges, researchers reported Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Flavored vapes are restricted in the U.S. "Vaporized nicotine products were more effective than nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation," wrote the research team led by Ryan Courtney, an associate professor with the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center at the University of New South Wales in Australia. For the study, researchers recruited more than 1,000 Australians receiving government assistance and randomly assigned them to vaping or nicotine replacement. All were interested in trying to quit smoking. The vape group received an eight-week supply of vape juice in tobacco, menthol or fruit flavors, while the nicotine replacement group chose an eight-week supply of gum or lozenges. All participants also received automated text messages for five weeks that provided behavioral support for their quit attempt, researchers said. After six months, more than 28% of people in the vape group remained smoke-free, compared with a little under 10% of those in the nicotine gum or lozenge group, the study found. "In the current trial among people experiencing social disadvantage, vaporized nicotine products with flavor choice had greater effectiveness compared with nicotine replacement therapy gum or lozenge when provided in combination with minimal text-message behavioral support," researchers concluded. However, researchers noted that further study is needed to make sure that people will remain smoke-free long-term while using a vape device. It's also unknown whether people are swapping one health risk for another, researchers added. "Although current evidence suggests switching completely from cigarette smoking to (vaping) reduces health risks, the long-term health effects of vaping are largely unknown and data are emerging that demonstrate vaping can impact cardiovascular health," researchers wrote. The U.S. government has severely limited the number of flavored tobacco products that are legally available. Kid-friendly flavors like fruit, menthol and dessert, are sold illegally and have been fueling an explosion in retail sales of e-cigarettes, ABC News reported. More information Johns Hopkins has more on vaping. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Forward Guernsey political party launches
A new political party Forward Guernsey has been launched ahead of the general election in June. The party will adopt the entire manifesto published by Future Guernsey, which has been dubbed a political movement by the group itself. The four candidates are Rhona Humphreys, Tom Rylatt, Ryan Courtney and Gavin St Pier, a current deputy and leader of the party. Mark Le Page, the party's secretary, said: "We have come together to form a party because we think this is the best way to offer manifesto clarity and accountability to voters." Deputy St Pier had been the political advisor for Future Guernsey which recently launched its manifesto. It said the government had a duty to support and enable economic growth and the island "needs long-term solutions, not short-term fixes to work towards the future Guernsey deserves" It believes its self-proclaimed ambitious manifesto "must be at the heart of everything our government does". St Pier said: "I resigned my role as political adviser to Future Guernsey at the end of March. "After the launch of their manifesto my role was complete and it would not have been appropriate to continue, knowing that I intend to seek nomination as a candidate in the election." Forward Guernsey is inviting other potential candidates to join it through an application. People wishing to apply will have to submit an application form, supply their CV, declare their interests and any prior convictions as well as provide a DBS/police check. Shortlisted candidates will then be interviewed by a panel who will decide whether or not to recommend to the party they be accepted as candidates. Ryan Courtney, who has pledged to stand as a candidate for the first time in June, said the process was "robust and testing", which he described as "entirely appropriate given the role we are asking the voters to elect us to do". The party is holding an open evening for potential candidates interested in joining the party from 18:30 BST at Les Cotils on 15 May. No political parties are currently formally registered in Guernsey - a process which involves supplying a constitution, the names of officials and other paperwork that is required to endorse candidates in the election on 18 June. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Future Guernsey 'movement' launches its policies Future Guernsey 'movement' launched Guernsey Election 2025 Future Guernsey States of Guernsey - Register of Political Parties
