Weighing is a strategy to reduce smoking in Northampton
Authorities in Northamptonshire are offering free e-cigarettes to smokers who want to try vejpning. The hope is that smokers, particularly pregnant women, will swap cigarettes for a less harmful alternative.
”We know that smoking is a habit that kills one in two users. E-cigarettes are not completely risk-free, but they are far less harmful than cigarettes. And the consequences of continuing to smoke outweigh even the worst possible risks that vejpning can pose. " says Ian Morris member of the local Health Care Board to the newspaper Northampton Chronicle.
According to British studies vejpning twice as efficient as other stop-smoking methods. The method is also the most popular with smokers who are trying to quit.
Twelve-week program
The authorities will also conduct outreach activities as part of the project. Workplaces with high levels of smoking among employees will be assisted, free of charge, by health organizations to help smokers change their habits. The offer of a free e-cigarette will be followed up by smokers agreeing to participate in a 12-week smoking cessation program.
Ian Morris cites improved public health as the main reason for the project becoming a reality. But there are also economic aspects.
”We have seen a decrease in the number of smokers over the last 20 years. But we still have 87,000 smokers in Northamptinshire. With hundreds of deaths every year, it costs society £160 million a year," he told the Northampton Chronicle.
Targeting pregnant smokers
A key target group for the campaign is pregnant smokers. Northamptonshire has a higher proportion of pregnant smokers, compared to the rest of the UK, notes Ian Morris.
Smoking during pregnancy harms the fetus and increases the risk of complications even after birth, as evidenced by a significantly lower birth weight. Quitting nicotine use is preferable, but according to several studies significantly reduces the risks even if the smoker switches to e-cigarettes. Newborn babies of vejp smokers have been shown to have the same birth weight as babies of non-smokers.
Hope they stop smoking for good
Now the Northampton authorities are hoping that pregnant smokers will also take the plunge and quit, using the methods offered by Stop Smoking Services. Free e-cigarettes are just one way, says Ian Morris.
"Public Health Northamptonshire encourages all smokers to use our Stop Smoking Service. With advice and support, we hope they will choose to quit for good. Using e-cigarettes, if that method suits them best." says Ian Morris to the Northampton Chronicle.
