Vaping

A “vape” or electronic cigarette is a device that heats up a liquid to create a vapour you breathe in. 

Some vaping devices include pens, e-cigarettes (JUUL) and hookahs. 

Vapes can be purchased from specialist vape shops, some pharmacies and retailers or online. 

Some vapes available on the market are currently unregulated and do not meet the safety guidelines of the Medicines Health Regulatory Agency.

The Medicines Health Regulatory Agency are responsible for regulating nicotine vaping products (e-cigarettes and refill containers) to make sure they are safe to use and to protect children from using these products. 

So far, no vapes have been licensed as stop smoking medicines in the UK and are not available on prescription from the NHS or from a GP.

Did you know that 2/3 of people who use a vape alongside expert support successfully quit smoking?

Swap to Stop programme.

The government are encouraging 1 millon smokers in England to switch from cigarrettes to vapes. 

Quit Well Newham are offering free vape starter kits to help smokers in Newham quit as part of the Swap to Stop programme.The service provides residents with free advice and support from a trained practitioner to quit smoking for up to 12 weeks.

Regulated and refillable vapes are provided by Quit Well Newham, that meet MHRA guidance, which work well for quitting smoking.

Advisors can give you advice on the right nicotine strength for you, how to use a vape and can give you support to make behavioural changes to help you with your journey to quitting smoking.

Vaping is thought to be less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk-free. People who use vapes breathe in less toxins and at lower levels compared to people who smoke cigarettes. 

Switching to a vape reduces your risk of cancer, lung disease, heart attack and stroke by a lot. Compared to cigarettes, vapes do not create tar or carbon monoxide, which are two of the most harmful things in tobacco smoke.

Vaping around others

Second-hand smoke from cigarettes can seriously harm other people. At the moment, there is no evidence that vaping is harmful to people around you. 

As a precaution, it is best not to vape around babies and children and this should be avoided at all costs. Young children often follow what adults do.

When vaping, think about people around you, like people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, other respiratory diseases or people who do not like vaping.

It is important not to smoke when pregnant or around pregnant women.

For more information, speak to a midwife or contact Quit Well Newham for advice and support. 

There are common side-effects of vaping which include:

• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Throat and mouth irritation
• Coughing, dryness of mouth and throat

If you experience any of the side-effects listed above or others, get advice from our Quit Well Newham service before using a vape as quit tool. This might be due to your vaping device or how you might be vaping. 

Side effects can be managed and should not stop you from using a vape as a quit aid. 

If you are using a vape to quit smoking, it is important to always take care and reduce any risks by:

• Buying a vape from a reputable retailer, so you can be sure the vape meets all UK safety regulations.
• Using the right charge and avoid charging a vape when you are not in the room or overnight
• Keeping vapes and e-liquids out of sight for children, as there is a risk of nicotine poisoning if swallowed.

There is not much evidence about the safety of vaping during pregnancy, but it is likely to be less harmful for you and your baby than smoking. 

If you are pregnant and require support to quit smoking, licensed nicotine replacement therapy products, including patches and gum, are the recommended option. 

For more information, speak to a midwife or contact Quit Well Newham for advice and support. 

While vaping is good at helping adult smokers to quit smoking, it is not completely harmless. It is illegal for young people under 18 to be vaping. 

Some people add THC oil to their vaping liquid. This sticky, thick, yellowy brown liquid comes from the cannabis plant, is extremely dangerous and can cause serious mental health problems. 

THC vaping is very harmful to the lungs and can cause:

• Loss of coordination
• Distorted senses (such as sound, sight, and touch)
• Anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations.
• Increased risk of psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia and other mental health issues.

There is more risk of having schizophrenia if you use cannabis from a young age, use annabis often or use stronger cannabis, like skunk, or have a  family history of schizophrenia.