​A recent pilot scheme from the University of East Anglia (UEA) gave out vape starter kit vouchers to help patients who have tried to quit in the past.

Initially, 668 individuals in Great Yarmouth were referred to the pilot scheme. The participants were selected through collaboration with local GP’s to select individuals who had tried and failed to quit previously.

Of those referred, 340 redeemed their vouchers from a local vape shop. At the shop the participants were also given advice on e-liquid flavours and strengths with additional support available from Smokefree Norfolk.

Within the first month of redeeming their vape, 42 per cent of entrenched smokers had quit!

Lead researcher and addiction expert Professor Caitlin Notley, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School said, “Research shows that vaping is an effective way of quitting smoking, compared to nicotine replacement therapies like patches and gum. E-cigarettes or vapes are now the most popular way of stopping smoking.

“Our research has previously shown that they may be particularly helpful in helping people to not only quit, but to stay quit for good.

“We wanted to see whether GPs giving out vape shop vouchers, alongside support from the stop smoking service, can help smokers quit. We particularly wanted to target vulnerable and disadvantaged smokers who had failed to quit smoking by other means,” she added.

After its initial success, the scheme was rolled out across Norfolk. The research team behind the project hopes that it will eventually become a national scheme.

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