Norfolk pilot helps two in five smokers quit in a month
It was initially targeted at those in Great Yarmouth and saw patients either self-refer or be recommended by their GP
Last updated 19th Aug 2022
A pilot scheme which offered smokers in Norfolk a £25 voucher to buy a vaping starter pack has helped many bin the cigarettes for good.
It was initially targeted at those in Great Yarmouth and saw patients either self-refer or be recommended by their GP - around 2 in every five managed to quit within a month.
"I think there is an important place for E-Cigarettes"
Professor Caitlin Notley from UEA's Norwich Medical School led the research.
She says vaping proved to be a good substitute for tobacco: "For some people that's really important, the ritual for going out to have a smoke that can easily be switched to a vape instead.
"The different types of models and things, some smokers really like that aspect of vaping, so it's a direct substitute. I think there is an important place for E-Cigarettes which goes beyond all the alternatives."
Ms Notley told us it was important to get GPs and local businesses involved in the project: "For some people having your doctor say to you, 'why don't you try this' might just give them the confidence to give it a go.
"We were really interested in this scheme, because working with an independent vape shop who were based in the middle of a community, enabled them to go into the shop and get one to one support.
"Vape shops are often staffed by people who have a lot of expertise in how to stop smoking and often have loads of knowledge to share about the different devices and what might work for different people.
"So getting that support is quite critical and then also getting the more formal behavioural support that the stop smoking service might be able to offer."
"A very good alternative to tobacco smoking"
She also told us that new vaping products are far better for those who want to quit- than previous products: "The modern E-Cigarettes particularly the pod-style ones with the disposable pods are really easy to use and lots of people find they are a very good alternative to tobacco smoking that can really deal with the nicotine cravings and enable people to switch quite successfully."
What did the overall numbers look like?
In total, 668 participants were referred to the scheme between December 2019 and July 2021, and 340 of them redeemed a voucher.
Of the 340 who took one up, 143 people (42%) had quit smoking by four weeks.