The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has welcomed new statistics published by the NHS Stop Smoking Services that reveal that the number of self-reported quitters (105,403) was 59% of all those that had accessed the service and set a quit date , significantly higher than in recent years – since 2010/11 the rate has ranged between 49% and 52%. The data was collected between March 2020 and April 2021
Other findings also revealed that the largest number of quit attempts came from the 45-59 old age group and the routine and manual occupations, with the next most represented group being ‘never worked or unemployed for over a year.’
Says John Dunne, director general at the UKVIA: “It’s great to see the quit rates of smokers using the service going up but it’s a real shame that this data does not clearly recognise the contribution played by vaping where there is significant evidence which shows it is the best aid in supporting a successful quit. Whilst there is a reference to unlicensed nicotine containing products, vaping is not mentioned, yet nicotine replacement therapies are and these have been proven to be much less effective than vape products in helping smokers successful quit cigarettes. The data also only focuses on successful quits after four weeks which is an extremely short period of time for someone who is trying to kick a long term habit.
“We would urge NHS Stop Smoking Services to reference the contribution made by vaping in its reporting of self-reported quits in order to give a clear picture of the different methods smokers across the country are using to quit.
“It’s also good to see that those from lower socio-economic groups are amongst the highest quit attempts. The levelling up agenda, through enabling smokers to benefit financially and healthwise from quitting through vaping, is very much a focus of the efforts of the UKVIA.”