Free e-cigarettes on the NHS would help four in ten smokers to quit, study shows

FREE e-cigarettes on the NHS would help four in ten smokers to quit, a study suggests

In a trial, 42 per cent of heavy smokers who took up the offer of a free vaping kit had kicked the habit within a month.

Getty

Free e-cigarettes on the NHS would help four in ten smokers to quit, a study suggests[/caption]

It targeted those who had previously failed to pack it in, giving them a £25 voucher to be exchanged for a vaping starter pack.

They were given advice and support but had to cover the ongoing costs of using e-cigarettes themselves.

In total, 668 participants were referred to the scheme between December 2019 and July 2021. Of the 340 who redeemed a voucher, 143 (42 per cent) had quit smoking by four weeks. The mean age of referrals was 41.4 years old.

The scheme was piloted in Great Yarmouth but has now been rolled out across the rest of Norfolk.

Trial leader Prof Caitlin Notley, from the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Research shows that vaping is an effective way of quitting smoking, compared to nicotine replacement therapies like patches and gum.

“E-cigarettes or vapes are now the most popular way of stopping smoking.

“Our research has previously shown that they may be particularly helpful in helping people to not only quit, but to stay quit for good.

“We wanted to see whether GPs giving out vape shop vouchers, alongside support from the stop smoking service, can help smokers quit.

“We particularly wanted to target vulnerable and disadvantaged smokers who had failed to quit smoking by other means.”

She continued: “This scheme enabled 42% of entrenched smokers who redeemed a voucher to have successfully quit smoking at four weeks.

“This is especially important because it helped those who have tried and failed to quit smoking many times to move away from tobacco.

“Overall, the project was well received by smokers as it offered an affordable route into vaping.

“GPs supported the scheme and appreciated being able to offer an alternative to entrenched smokers.”