Quitline offering free vapes to help people stop smoking

But anyone not already a smoker is being urged not to try addictive vapes.

Guernsey’s stop smoking helpline is giving the re-chargeable e-cigarettes and a six-week supply of vaping liquid to smokers over the age of 18 who sign up to the Quitline programme.

Quitline manager Andrea Tostevin said there was increasing evidence that vapes were a successful way to stop smoking, and that this is increased further if done with behavioural support.

‘Using vapes in the short term to stop smoking can have huge health benefits,’ she said.

‘Anyone eligible must be over 18, a smoker and be willing to engage with Quitline on a programme to quit altogether.’

Mrs Tostevin said that they could not say how much each individual e-cigarette cost, but they were less expensive than the nicotine replacement treatments like patches that they also offer.

‘It is hugely cost-effective, and it is coming out of the annual Quitline budget,’ she said.

National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance published in November 2021 recommended that vapes should be one of the options offered to adult smokers who were looking to quit, and a number of UK stop smoking services also offered free e-cigarettes.

Quitline was keen to stress that they would discourage anyone who is not a smoker from using vapes.

‘Nicotine is hugely addictive, and we can’t be sure of the long-term effects of e-cigarettes as they are a relatively new product,’ Mrs Tostevin said.

‘Ideally we wouldn’t recommend people use vapes for more than a year.’

A 2019 Public Health England study showed a 73% success rate for people trying to quit smoking when e-cigarettes were used alongside behavioural support compared to 50% using other treatments.

Mrs Tostevin said that Public Health England have also carried out a number of studies to show that e-cigarettes were 95% less harmful than cigarettes themselves.

Although the costs to Guernsey from smoking are unknown, the charity Action on Smoking and Health – ASH, put the annual figure at £17.04bn for England alone.

This included health and social care costs, productivity, and fire damage.

As well as the saving for the taxpayer, Quitline were keen to emphasise the personal savings individuals could make from giving up smoking.

‘A packet of cigarettes now costs about £9, so a pack-a-day smoker who gives up can save £250 a month.

‘We are talking about people saving a huge amount of money.

‘Quitline will be giving clear advice on use of the devices, including how to stop using them, along with advice on how they can be recycled.

‘We can now offer prebooked appointments, either one to one, or for small groups of friends or family at different times of day and at clinics around the island.’

The Health Improvement Commission said they supported Quitline’s use of e-cigarettes.

Tobacco harm reduction officer Grace Lindsay said: ‘Quitting smoking using e-cigarettes is a known and effective plan. E-cigarettes are much less damaging to our health than tobacco.

‘Quitline is able to help those hoping to stop smoking tobacco and we support their methods.’

n To make an appointment or for further information please telephone Quitline on 01481 220021, email quitline@gov.gg