The war on vaping continues, and adult smokers and vapers remain invisible in the conversation. While politicians and public health agencies claim to fight for “public health,” their policies and research overwhelmingly focus on youth vaping, completely disregarding the people who are dying from smoking-related diseases: adults.

The Data Doesn’t Lie—Public Health Research Ignores Adults

A recent Analyse von 970 tobacco control studies found:
✅ 71% focused only on young people
✅ 75% excluded anyone over 35
✅ Just 0.5% studied middle-aged or older adults

This means that the very people at risk—long-term smokers over 35—are being ignored in the research that shapes tobacco policy. Instead of studying how vaping helps older smokers quit, resources are spent obsessing over youth experimentation—despite youth smoking rates being at an all-time low.

Why Are Lawmakers and Public Health Officials Failing Adults?

Misdirected Focus on Youth – While protecting youth is important, the reality is that youth vaping rates are declining, and youth smoking is virtually nonexistent. But instead of celebrating vaping as a harm reduction tool for adults, lawmakers use fear-based narratives to justify bans.

Big Tobacco and Tax Revenue – The more adults quit smoking, the less money governments make from cigarette taxes. Instead of encouraging harm reduction, they create barriers to vaping—keeping smokers addicted to traditional cigarettes that generate billions in revenue.

Misinformation and Fear-Mongering – Public health campaigns spread false and misleading information about vaping, making smokers afraid to switch to a proven safer alternative. A majority of adults now wrongly believe vaping is as harmful—or more harmful—than smoking.

The Consequences of Ignoring Adult Smokers

🚨 Fewer people switch to vaping, leading to more preventable deaths.
🚨 Bans and restrictions eliminate access to the most effective smoking cessation tool.
🚨 Small businesses that serve adult vapers are forced to close, while Big Tobacco thrives.

It’s Time to Prioritize Harm Reduction for Adults

🔹 Support policies that protect adult access to vaping.
🔹 Fund research on how vaping helps middle-aged and older smokers quit.
🔹 Stop the misinformation and fear campaigns that discourage adult smokers from switching.

We cannot continue to let lawmakers ignore the people who are actually dying from smoking. Vaping is the most effective smoking cessation tool ever devised—but only if adults are allowed to access it.

It’s time to demand that public health officials, researchers, and lawmakers stop ignoring adult smokers and vapers. The lives of millions depend on it.