Yo.
I’m a journalist and critic, and I’ve extensively covered the nicotine vape industry for years—first at VICE and now at Filter, where I’m a staff writer.
In short, I believe that nicotine use should be viewed pragmatically and with empathy, and that harm reduction in this field is misunderstood and remains understudied. There are still 1.1 billion smokers globally, according to the World Health Organization — 80 percent of whom live in low- and middle-income countries.
“The No Smoking Section” will be a continuation of my coverage on tobacco harm reduction (THR) — my own platform where, probably every Friday for now, I’ll analyze the news of the week and gather my recent reporting into a single place. As time goes on, I hope to expand with more original content: narrative-driven tales about vapers, researched commentary on the political battles of vaping in the US and abroad, and news hits on advancements in technology, the growing debates among tobacco control experts, and setbacks in science and business. That’s not an exhaustive list. Maybe there’ll even be some media criticism. I might mess with some formats; I see it as an evolving project.
By way of introduction, here are a few articles I’ve published:
The Weak, Unconvincing Case Against Vaping for The New Republic
There Are Anti-Vaping P.S.A.s on YouTube. There’s a Lot More Vaping for The New York Times Magazine
Tobacco Control Experts Unite for Unprecedented Support of Vaping for Filter
Why Japan’s Huge Drop in Smoking Is a Story Prohibitionists Ignore for Filter
This newsletter will be free through at least November, at which point I’ll ask for a moderate subscription fee — $8 a month. That’s what I’m aiming for at least. Think of it, basically, as the cost of a single pack of cigarettes. And of course, the more I make, the longer I can dedicate my energy into doing this. I know everybody’s struggling right now, and the world is a mess.
Nonetheless, I hope it can be an informative resource, especially for vape shop owners and manufacturers in the States who are watching their industry explode from the Food and Drug Administration’s regulatory process. I appreciate the support. Please do subscribe, and it’ll be sent straight to your inbox.
The first edition will appear on Friday, October 1.
Much love,
Alex
