Vaping information and support

Thinking about stopping vaping?

Many people use vapes (e-cigarettes) as an alternative to smoking tobacco. While vaping is generally considered less harmful than smoking, some people decide they would like to reduce or stop vaping for personal, financial, or health reasons.

Smokefree Norfolk provides support to help people stop smoking tobacco. We do not currently provide a vaping cessation service and are unable to offer specialist support or treatment for people whose only goal is to stop vaping.

What support do we offer?

We can support people who:

  • Smoke tobacco and want to quit
  • Use both tobacco and vapes and would like help to become tobacco-free
  • Are currently using a vape as part of their journey away from tobacco smoking

Our service is focused on helping Norfolk residents stop smoking tobacco and reducing the harms associated with tobacco use.

If you only vape

Although vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking tobacco, it can still maintain nicotine dependence for many people. This is why some people choose to stop vaping once they feel confident they can remain smokefree.

If you feel ready to stop vaping, it is usually best to reduce your nicotine intake gradually rather than stopping suddenly. Many people find the following approaches helpful:

  • Reduce the nicotine strength of your e-liquid step by step over several weeks.
  • Visit a reputable vape retailer for advice on nicotine strengths and products that can support a gradual reduction.
  • Consider using Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) such as patches, gum, lozenges, mouth spray or inhalators. These products are available from pharmacies, where staff can also provide advice on choosing the right option for you. NRT is typically used for 8–12 weeks to help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

When using NRT, it is generally best to stop vaping completely. Vapes deliver nicotine very quickly through the lungs, which can reinforce nicotine dependence. In contrast, NRT delivers nicotine more slowly through the skin or lining of the mouth, helping to control cravings while allowing your body and brain to gradually become less dependent on nicotine.

The most important goal is to avoid returning to smoking cigarettes. If reducing or stopping vaping causes strong cravings, withdrawal symptoms, or thoughts about smoking again, consider slowing down your reduction plan or using NRT for additional support.

Reduce your nicotine gradually, seek advice from a reputable vape retailer or pharmacist if needed, consider NRT to help manage cravings, and focus on staying smokefree while working towards becoming nicotine-free.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is vaping safer than smoking?

    Current evidence suggests that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking tobacco because vapes do not burn tobacco and therefore do not produce many of the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke.

  • Can Smokefree Norfolk help me stop vaping?

    At present, no. Our commissioned service is designed to support people to stop smoking tobacco. If you only vape and do not smoke tobacco, we are unable to provide a vaping cessation programme.

  • I smoke and vape. Can I access support?

    Yes. If you currently smoke tobacco, even if you also vape, our coaches can support you to become smoke-free.

  • Can I use a vape to help me stop smoking?

    Many people use vapes as a tool to help them move away from tobacco smoking. If you are a smoker looking to quit, our coaches can discuss the options available to help you stop smoking.

Our position on vaping

Smokefree Norfolk supports evidence-based approaches to helping people stop smoking tobacco. While vaping can play a role in helping some smokers move away from tobacco, our service remains focused on tobacco cessation.

Looking for help to stop smoking?

Please contact our team today.

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