Professor Ron Borland - Deakin University School of Psychology
- Pippa Starr
- Sep 17, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 22
Professor Ron Borland (PhD) joined Deakin University School of Psychology in February 2024. He is transitioning from the University of Melbourne (2019-2024). Prior to that he was the Nigel Gray Distinguished Fellow in Cancer Prevention, at The Cancer Council Victoria, Australia where he worked for 33 years. He has published over 500 peer-reviewed papers mostly on aspects of tobacco control. He has been listed in the Web of Science list of the World’s most influential scientists. He is one of the Principal Investigators of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project: an international collaboration that is analysing the impact of policies on smoking. He has a special interest in harm minimisation strategies and strategies to assist highly disadvantaged, high risk prevalence groups. He takes a systems approach to theorising that integrates individual level and population level change. He is the author of CEOS theory: a comprehensive theory of Hard to Maintain Behaviour Change.
The E-Cigarette Summit US, 2024 - Video>>
17 September 2024 - Percieved Vaping Addiction Study perceived vaping addiction
May 2024 - The Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill Submission
18 July 2023 - Urgent vaping law reform needed in Australia
Under the Freedom of Information Act, correspondence between committee members of the Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ANACAD), the peak body that advises the Australian Government on issues related to alcohol and other drugs, reveals significant concerns that the current prescription policy is failing and that the Minister’s proposed vaping crackdown will only make things worse. We fully endorse their concerns.
"The prescription-only prohibition model has failed to protect young people. It has also restricted legal access for adult smokers to an effective quitting aid and harm reduction strategy."
3 May 2023 - Australia Bans Non-prescription Vaping - Expert Reaction
"In my opinion, having studied many aspects of tobacco control over the last 36 years, I am gravely concerned that the government’s new policy will do more harm than good. I think there is a high likelihood it will result in an increase in the rates of tobacco smoking, even though it will achieve its proximal goal of reducing levels of vaping in the community.
"The ban on any form of recreational vaping in the short term will lead to a significant proportion of those who are dependent on the nicotine to switch to cigarettes which are still widely available, and there will be a somewhat delayed uptake in smoking among those who are not currently dependent. The policy also appears to be reducing the nicotine levels in prescription vapes. If these levels are dropped low enough, it is likely to greatly reduce their effectiveness as smoking cessation aids and thus lead to considerable relapse back to smoking. Furthermore, a proportion of those who quit using vaping need to maintain their vaping over an extended period after they quit, and the prescription model will make this difficult, again likely leading to a resumption smoking by some.
"There is no reasonable doubt that vaping is a lot less harmful than smoking, and these changes are likely to increase smoking rates and thus increase the burden of ill health and premature mortality in Australia.
"The contrast could not be starker with what is happening in New Zealand, where they are making major efforts to reduce smoking, and taking a more tolerant tax approach to vaping. I predict the New Zealand approach is going to have a vast better impact on public health.
"The government’s approach is an extension of the war on drugs to nicotine, but unlike the war on drugs, they are leaving the most harmful form, smoking, readily available. The war on drugs failed. It is likely that this policy will fail also." Source>>
8 September 2022 - Smoking & Vaping Modeling
The model suggests the potential for public health gains to be achieved by relaxing NVP access regulations. However, the model would benefit from better information regarding the impact of NVPs on smoking under a relaxation of current restrictions.
In terms of meeting the Australian government’s goal of lesser than 5% adult smoking prevalence by 2030,67 smoking prevalence is projected to reach 5% for males in 2042 and for females in 2036, indicating that additional policies will be needed to reach less than 5% by 2030.
In the Restricted NVP Scenario, smoking prevalence is 7.5% in 2080 for males and the 5% goal is only reached in 2064 for females.
17 April 2019 Graduation Address - Uni Of Melbourne
Findings from the ITC project - June 30 2017
2 February 2017 - Response to the (TGA) scheduling delegates’ interim decision on nicotine.
