Can vaping really help you stop smoking?

Decided to quit smoking? Here’s how vaping can help you along the way.

With 2022 comes those all-important annual new year’s resolutions.

The year has just begun, and there are many months ahead for you to achieve your goals.

Maybe this is the year you’ve finally decided to ditch the cigarettes.

Stopping smoking most definitely isn’t easy; it requires lots of patience and willpower, but there are many tools and resources out there to help you along the way.

An e-cigarette is just one of them – but can they really help you quit for good?

Here’s everything you need to know.

What are e-cigarettes and how do they work?
E-cigarettes are devices that allow you to inhale nicotine in the same way you would with a traditional cigarette, only you do this through vapour rather than smoke.

They don’t burn tobacco and don’t produce tar or carbon monoxide, which are two of the most harmful elements in tobacco smoke, and they work by heating a liquid that typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine and flavourings.

How exactly will an e-cigarette help me to quit smoking?
Every year in the UK, thousands of people quit smoking with the help of an e-cigarette.

But how exactly do they help?

E-cigarettes are the only replacement available that truly replicates the sensation of smoking.

Another reason they help people to successfully quit smoking is due to e-liquids being available in different nicotine strengths.

There is an impressive selection of e-liquids, ranging from high 18mg strengths to low 6mg strengths and nicotine-free.

If you were a heavy smoker, you can start off with a higher strength liquid, and gradually reduce your nicotine intake as you find yourself gaining control of those dreaded cravings – which is what a lot of people attempting to quit eventually give in to.

There’s also a plethora of flavours you can choose from, so you’ll be able to find a couple that you like and switch between those, which will make the experience a bit more enjoyable.

An added bonus is that vape kits and e-liquids are considerably cheaper than other nicotine replacement therapies, so not only are you more likely to quit successfully, you’ll also be saving money in the process.

How effective are e-cigarettes for helping people quit?
In recent years, e-cigs have become an extremely popular stop smoking aid in the United Kingdom.

They’re far less dangerous than the traditional tobacco cigarettes you’ll be used to and according to recent research, they give you the best chance of quitting for good.

In a report published by Queen Mary University of London in June 2021, findings from their clinical trial show that e-cigarettes are more effective than nicotine replacement treatments (nicotine patches, gum, inhalers, etc) in achieving long-term smoking reduction among the most dependent smokers.

In the study, researchers enrolled 135 smokers who have previously been unsuccessful in their attempts to quit smoking using other forms of treatment.

They were randomly selected to receive either an 8-week supply of a nicotine replacement treatment (NRT) of their choice or an e-cigarette starter pack – with instructions to purchase further liquids and strengths of their choice.

After 6 months, 27% of the participants in the e-cigarette group reduced their smoking by at least half, compared to only 6% of participants in the NRT group.

A significant difference was also found in quitting smoking altogether.