Publish date: 17 October 2023
Smoking cigarettes continues to be a major factor contributing to poor health in the UK, exacerbating health inequalities.
While the number of deaths caused by smoking is falling, it remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature fatalities. Smoking is estimated to be responsible for a quarter of all cancer-related fatalities, and in 2019 it accounted for 75,000 deaths in England - 15% of the total mortality rate.
This year’s theme for Stoptober is raising awareness around vapes, here Ariana Florentino-Gonzalez, Tobacco Dependence Specialist for Mental Health West London NHS Trust takes us through the common questions.
What is an electronic cigarette/vape?
An electronic cigarette, often referred to as an e-cigarette or vape, is a device that is designed to simulate the act of smoking traditional cigarettes. It works by vaporising a liquid solution, typically containing nicotine, flavourings, and other chemicals, creating a vapour which the user then breathes in.
Electronic cigarettes were originally developed as a less harmful alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes, with the idea that they could help smokers quit or reduce their tobacco consumption.
They have gained popularity for their perceived lesser health risk compared to traditional smoking, as they do not involve combustion and the production of harmful tar or many of the other toxic chemicals found in traditional cigarettes.
Vapes as a tool to quit smoking
Vaping is not risk free but it is significantly less harmful than smoking, with vapes 95% safer to use than traditional cigarettes. From the perspective of a tobacco dependence specialist, the advantages of switching from traditional cigarettes to vapes are clear. One major safety benefit of vaping is the absence of tar, a major contributor to lung and cardiovascular diseases associated with smoking. Since vaping produces vapour rather than smoke, there is no combustion, resulting in reduced second-hand smoke exposure for others.
Research indicates that people who use e-cigarettes to quit smoking, coupled with face-to face support from a specialist, are up to twice as likely to succeed as people who use other nicotine replacement products, such as patches or gum (7). This is why e-cigarettes can be a great tool to aid your quit attempt, however, to get the full benefits of vaping you need to stop smoking cigarettes completely. Lastly, vapes are not meant to replace traditional cigarettes, but serve as an intervention in the first 12 weeks of your quit attempt, helping to manage nicotine withdrawal and cravings
In the media, the coverage of vapes has become contentious, with focus on children’s usage adding complexity to the overall conversation.
Children vaping
In the UK, it is illegal to sell vapes to anyone under the age of 18. Despite this, the number of vapes used by young people has increased, whilst the number of cigarettes used has decreased ( 2 ) .This trend suggests the emergence of a new generation of young people addicted to nicotine, having never smoked a traditional cigarette. More than one in five(22%) adolescents in England aged 11-15 have reported using vapes ( 3 ).
Just two years ago, authorities were confident that surveys of under-18s demonstrated their firm rejection of vaping, much like their increasing stance on smoking. However, recent developments suggest a significant rise. According to the campaign group Action on Smoking and Health(Ash), the proportion of 11 to 17-year-olds who have experimented with vaping has jumped from 13.9% in 2020 to 15.8% in 2022, reaching a concerning 20.5% in their most recent survey this year.
About the Smokefree Team:
We have recently launched ‘The Specialist Community Smokefree Service for people with mental health and pregnancy’, which provides treatment and support for people with mental health conditions, and pregnant people who would like to give up or make a change to their smoking behaviours.
References
- e-cigarettes briefing [ 2 ] v4 (ncsct.co.uk)
- Headline-results-ASH-Smokefree-GB-adults-and-youth-survey-results-2023.pdf
- Part 4: Electronic cigarette use (vaping) - NHS Digital
- Young people who vape are more likely to become smokers (truthinitiative.org)
- Number of disposable single-use vapes thrown away have in a year quadrupled to 5million per week - Material Focus
- Scotland to consider ban on disposable vapes - BBC News
- Electronic Cigarettes - ASH