Vape kits to be offered to people in Calderdale through new stop smoking trial

People in Calderdale will be offered vaping kits through a new stop smoking trial funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and delivered by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale, a community stop smoking service commissioned by Calderdale Council, will provide vaping products alongside behavioural support to help more people quit smoking.

Dr Stuart Griffiths, Director of Research at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “Yorkshire Cancer Research is committed to saving lives by helping more people quit smoking for good.

“Vaping products are an incredibly effective method of helping people quit smoking, and it is essential that people have easy access to them when trying to give up cigarettes. Smoking becomes an addiction, not a ‘lifestyle choice’, and the charity is dedicated to giving the best possible support to people who want to quit.”

The smoking rate in Calderdale is higher than the England average of 13%, with 15% of adults in the area currently smoking. Each year, more than 120 people die from smoking-related cancer in Calderdale (2).

Vaping devices are far less harmful than smoking cigarettes and switching to vaping completely can significantly improve the health of people who smoke (3).It is estimated that there are up to 4,500 additional quitters every year in Yorkshire because of vaping products.

Debs Harkins, Director of Public Health at Calderdale Council, added: “We want people in Calderdale to live longer, healthier and happier lives. Smoking damages the lungs and airways and harms the immune system, so quitting is a really important way to look after your physical and mental health.

“Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale has helped thousands of people quit smoking for good through advice and quitting aids. Thanks to this new trial, the addition of vapes alongside existing support will hopefully help more people to quit and look forward to a more positive, smoke-free future.”

The year-long trial has been informed by the success of a similar programme in Kirklees, also funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, which offered vaping devices alongside specialist support.

Debs added: “Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale has helped thousands of people quit smoking for good through advice and quitting aids. Thanks to this new trial, the addition of vapes alongside existing support will hopefully help more people to quit and look forward to a more positive, smoke-free future.”

The year-long trial has been informed by the success of a similar programme in Kirklees, also funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, which offered vaping devices alongside specialist support.

The UK Government has recently announced a ‘Swap to Stop’ scheme, which will provide a million vaping devices alongside behavioural support to people who smoke. The scheme is designed to help reach the government’s ‘Smokefree 2030’ target, which aims to reduce the national smoking rate to less than 5%.

Yorkshire is currently on track to miss the Smokefree 2030 target, and programmes like the one in Calderdale can help bring Yorkshire closer to reaching this goal, as well as inform the government’s roll out of the ‘Swap to Stop’ scheme.

For support to quit smoking using a vaping device or Nicotine Replacement Therapies such as patches, contact Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale on 01422 262373 or 0330 660 1166 (free from most mobiles), or visit www.yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk.

1. The fraction of cancer attributable to modifiable risk factors in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom in 2015 | British Journal of Cancer (nature.com)
2. Local Tobacco Control Profiles - OHID (phe.org.uk)
3. Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update main findings - GOV.UK