13.03.2025, The Hague – The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) strongly condemns State Secretary Vincent Karremans’ recent statements on vaping, which are not only inaccurate but also harmful to public health efforts. Karremans’ claim that “nicotine is the most addictive drug in existence after heroin and crack” is a blatant misrepresentation of scientific evidence and contributes to the growing pandemic of misinformation surrounding vaping in the Netherlands.

Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, stated:

“The Dutch government’s fear-mongering tactics are not only wrong but dangerous. By spreading such misinformation, they are actively undermining efforts to combat smoking in the Netherlands. The scientific evidence is clear: vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking and has helped millions quit cigarettes.”

Karremans further asserted that “nicotine harms the developing brain” and “makes you more susceptible to other addictions”. Such statements fly in the face of evidence provided by respected organisations such as Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). ASH reports that young people who vape are much less likely to be nicotine-dependent than smokers. They also note that population-level data does not support the gateway hypothesis. Furthermore, ASH states that no data is available on the direct effects of nicotine exposure in human adolescents, undermining definitive claims about its impact on developing brains.

While Sweden and New Zealand are on the verge of becoming smoke-free thanks to their progressive approaches to vaping and nicotine pouches, the Netherlands continues to lag behind with a smoking rate of almost 20%.

“It’s deeply concerning to see the Dutch government ignore the success stories of countries like Sweden and New Zealand,” Landl added. “Instead of embracing proven harm reduction strategies, they choose to peddle myths that will only serve to keep people smoking.”

The WVA calls on the Dutch government to retract its misleading statements and revise its approach based on factual, scientific evidence. Failing to do so will only perpetuate the smoking epidemic and deny smokers access to potentially life-saving alternatives.