Vaping to quit smoking

Table of Contents

Vaping to Quit smoking

Nicotine vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking. It’s also one of the most effective tools for quitting smoking. Public Health England conducted an independent review in 2019 and found that vaping is around 95% less harmful than smoking in the short and medium term. 

Vaping is not completely harmless and is only recommend it for adult smokers, to support quitting smoking and staying quit.

Below you will find the facts on vaping, based on scientific evidence and research, plus advice on how to use vapes (sometimes called e-cigarettes or e-cigs) as a tool to quit smoking.

Vaping to quit smoking - NHS website

Swap to Stop

“Swap to Stop” is a national scheme offering a free vape to residents who are 18 years or older and who currently smoke.

Swap to stop webpage

Myths About Vaping

There can be some confusion about vapes -this is not surprising, because there is lots of misleading information out there.

Please see below for some of the most common myths about vaping, and the facts based on scientific evidence and data.

Vaping myths and the facts - NHS website

How to recycle your vapes

All our vapes are reusable. When you no longer need them, simply put them into plastic bags to keep them together and place them into your green recycling box with glass bottles, jars and paper. Alternatively, you can take your vapes to a local recycling collection point. You can find your nearest one here.

For more information on recycling please visit the South Gloucestershire Council Waste and Recycling page.

How to quit vaping when you feel ready

Once you have been vaping for a while and feel confident you will not go back to smoking, you should aim to quit vaping too. Whilst we know that vaping is far less harmful to health than smoking in the short to medium term, there is nothing better than breathing fresh air.

If you would like to stop vaping, here are some tips:

  • gradually reduce the strength of nicotine in your e-liquid (if you are using a disposable vape, you could switch to a refillable device to do this).
  • Increase the periods of time between vaping sessions and gradually reduce the number of puffs you take when using the device.
  • Limit your locations where you vape and when you vape, for example only outside of the home or only on breaks at work

Do not rush this process. Only reduce your vaping frequency or nicotine strength when you feel you will not go back to smoking and do not have to puff more to compensate.

Remember, if you have stopped smoking completely you have already achieved a huge step in protecting your health, so don’t worry if it takes you a while to stop vaping.