The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has welcomed new research which reveals that more than 4 in 10 ex-smokers, who have quit cigarettes, reported improvements in their mental health. More than 4 in 10 also reported that greater access to vaping equipment for smoking cessation would have made quitting easier.
The new research, commissioned by UKVIA member Vape Club for World Mental Health Day 2020, polled over 1,000 current and ex-smokers. The study found that 27% of UK smokers would like to quit cigarettes to improve their mental health, whilst 44% of ex-smokers reported noticing an improvement in their mental health since giving up cigarettes.
Other reasons to quit cited by respondents were physical health improvements (74%) and financial concerns (51%).
UKVIA director John Dunne welcomed the research:
“We are always keen to see new data and analysis added to the study of smoking cessation. Harm-reduction to support physical wellbeing has been a key area of interest to the UKVIA, but this latest research underlines the importance of mental health too.
“The Department of Health’s own 2017 Tobacco Control Plan warned against the risks of ‘leaving some people behind’ when it comes to smoking cessation among those with mental health conditions. Smoking rates are higher among those with serious mental health conditions (40.5%) than in the general population.
“It is also encouraging to see that a large percentage of ex-smokers felt that greater access to vaping would have further aided their quit attempts.
“With smoking cessation presenting so many opportunities for improvement in personal and public health, it is vital that smokers have all the information and tools necessary at their disposal. We know that vaping can be almost twice as effective as NRT in helping smokers to quit, and we hope that both World Mental Health Day and Stoptober will give people an opportunity to reflect on making positive health changes.
“We have seen a reduction in smoking rates in the UK, from 14.7% in 2018 to 14.1% in 2019, but much work remains to be done. Research such as this can empower decision makers and the general public to make a smoke-free future a reality”.
You can read the full study ‘Quitting Smoking for Mental Health’ here.
UK Vaping Industry Association | Website: www.ukvia.co.uk | @Vaping_Industry