Vape kits handed out by NHS could help people quit smoking, study shows

Vape kits vouchers handed out by the NHS could help people quit smoking, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia, alongside GPs and the NHS’s stop smoking service, found that nearly half of smokers quit within a month when they began vaping under the scheme.

Professor Caitlin Notley, lead researcher and addiction expert from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said e-cigarettes and vapes are “particularly helpful in helping people to not only quit, but to stay quit for good.”

For the study, funded by Norfolk County Council, university researchers worked with GPs in Great Yarmouth to find patients who had previously tried and failed to quit smoking.

Around 21 per cent of people in Great Yarmouth smoke tobacco, compared to 14 per cent of people living in the rest of Norfolk and 15 per cent as a national average.

Some 668 participants received a voucher redeemable for a starter kit from a local vape shop, which 340 people later redeemed.

Participants were also given information about e-liquid flavours and strengths, and provided with additional support from Smokefree Norfolk.

Researchers also interviewed some participants, GPs and staff at both the vape shops and SmokeFree Norfolk.

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“This innovative approach saw the NHS local stop smoking service, vape retailers and researchers working together, recognising that other forms of smoking cessation support do not work for everyone,” said Professor Notley.

“This scheme enabled 42 per cent 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,” she added.

Researchers hope that a similar voucher scheme could be rolled out nationwide in order to encourage more people to switch from smoking to vaping and lower the number of people that still smoke cigarettes.

The study was published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.