Hundreds of smokers visiting emergency departments in England were offered free e-cigarettes for a period. At the same time, they were given advice on how to quit smoking. After six months, researchers from the University of East Anglia evaluated the subjects' smoking habits.
"The trial showed that a similar national intervention could lead to an additional 22,000 Britons quitting smoking, annually" notes doctor Ian Pope from UEA Norwich Medical School.
During visits to various emergency departments, 484 patients, all daily smokers, were offered a starter kit of e-cigarettes and a referral to visit a smoking cessation counselor. A second group of 488 smoking patients were instead given written information on how to access smoking cessation services, but were not referred directly and did not receive a vejp kit.
The study found that those referred to the services and offered a vejp kit were significantly more likely to quit smoking compared to the other group. There were almost twice as many successful attempts: 23% quit smoking after six months, compared to 13% in the non-vejp group, according to the results recently made public via University of East Anglia.
Reaching smokers in vulnerable groups
According to the researchers, emergency departments should look into the possibility of similar interventions in the future.
"It has proven to be a successful method of reaching groups of the population who may not routinely engage with smoking cessation services, but at the same time are those who have the most to gain from quitting smoking." the researchers told the BBC.
"Can save thousands of lives"
According to the doctor Ian Pope these types of interventions can play a major role in reducing smoking in the UK. Currently, almost 15% of the population smokes, but significantly more (almost 25%) in socio-economically vulnerable groups and people with some form of mental illness. This is a declining proportion, but also a trend that can be accelerated, according to the researchers behind the study.
"Switching to e-cigarettes could save thousands of lives. We believe that if this intervention was rolled out widely, it could lead to over 22,000 additional people quitting smoking each year. And when a smoker visits an emergency department, it could open up a valuable opportunity for people to get support to quit smoking. It is likely to improve their chances of recovery from whatever has brought them to hospital, but also prevent future illness." says Dr. Ian Pope to the BBC.
Shows that vejpning is effective
Caitlin Notley, Professor of Addiction Studies wide University of East Anglia, who acted as a co-investigator during the study, notes that vapes, e-cigarettes, proved to be a good alternative, which can help people quit smoking.
"We know that vejping is significantly less harmful than smoking tobacco, and that e-cigarettes have been shown to help smokers quit," she told the BBC. "About half of all smokers will die prematurely and smokers lose an average of 10 years of life. For every death caused by smoking, about 30 more suffer from a smoking-related disease." says Caitlin Notley.
Reducing smoking - and healthcare costs
The study, which was funded by government National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), was recently published in Emergency Medicine Journal. The findings may have implications for future interventions and are supported by anti-smoking organizations in the UK.
"Smoking costs the health service and taxpayers billions every year in completely avoidable health and social care costs. Encouraging more people to quit smoking tobacco will support them to live healthier lives." says Hazel Cheeseman, CEO of the public health organization Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). "This kind of low-cost support, offered in conjunction with other care, is exactly what we need to rapidly reduce smoking, especially among smokers in vulnerable groups," she told the BBC.
Then I think alcohol should also be banned, also costs society a lot of money.