Another U.K. Community to Offer Free Vapes to Smokers

Smokers in England continue to be encouraged to quit by being offered free vaping devices. The action will now bring the borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, one step closer to fulfilling the UK government’s ambition for England to be smoke free by 2030, a move which could save local National Health Service (NHS) trusts millions of pounds.

The devices are now available from Kirklees Council’s stop smoking services and the charity Yorkshire Cancer Research alongside more traditional forms of Nicotine Replacement Therapies such as patches or gum. The devices are being offered as part of the Kirklees Wellness Service, a council funded initiative that supports over-18 youth in Kirklees to live healthier lives.

Stuart Griffiths, director of research, services and policy at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said his organization is committed to saving lives by helping more people quit smoking for good. “Yorkshire has the highest smoking rate in England, and this causes thousands of smoking-related cancers and needless deaths in our region each year,” he told Yorkshire Live. “When it comes to helping people quit for good, being able to offer vaping products is essential. They are an incredibly effective aid in helping people give up cigarettes.”

A recent review of evidence by global researchers Cochrane has shown that vaping devices are more effective than Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) when supporting smokers to quit. More than 500 people in Kirklees lose their lives to smoking related illnesses every year, yet smoking remains one of the biggest causes of preventable death in the region, according to the story.