Coaching over the phone helped almost half of young people who vape ditch the habit, according to a study. Researchers said this could potentially improve their health and decrease the likelihood of transitioning to cigarettes.

The study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Liz Klein, a researcher at The Ohio State University College of Public Health and co-author of the study, said, “This study provides hope that young adult vapers want to quit and can be successful in breaking their addiction to nicotine.

“This is such an essential group for disruption of that behaviour on or before they enter into more established adulthood.”

The study

The research included more than 500 participants recruited through social media, with almost 80 per cent vaping daily. All participants had to complete at least one of two coaching calls during the study. Three months after joining the study, 45 per cent of the 18 to 24-year-olds no longer vaped.

The research team designed the study to understand which intervention, or combination of interventions, worked best. They randomly assigned participants to one of four options:

  • Phone-based quitline coaching alone
  • Coaching plus mailed nicotine replacement therapy
  • Coaching plus mHealth (a mobile intervention offering texts, links to videos and other online support)
  • Coaching, nicotine replacement and mHealth support

As a result of the unexpectedly high success rate overall, researchers were unable to determine which intervention worked best. However, the results revealed that support through a quitline is a strong option for young people who vape and want to stop. Based on the data, the researchers also suspect that nicotine replacement therapy sent to people who want to quit could increase the chances of successful cessation.

Liz said the researchers were surprised by the high quit rates and to learn that most of the study participants would recommend quitline calls. The team hypothesised that younger people might not be eager to talk on the phone with coaches and prefer text messages.

According to the ‘Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England 2023’ report from NHS England, one in 10 (nine per cent) of 11 to 15-year-olds vape frequently. This is an increase from six per cent in 2018.

Liz said, “We want to know how we can help young people not develop a lifelong addiction to nicotine, and how to make sure they’re not switching to cigarettes, which comes with such a high toll in terms of both death and disease.

“We are very excited to see that this cessation approach worked so well in this group. Next, we’d love to determine how to best facilitate quitting among young people who vape and smoke traditional cigarettes.”

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