“The message is very clear to young people, to adults, to people of all ages, don’t start vaping if you have never smoked.” This is the advice of Ulster Hospital’s Respiratory Clinical Lead Nurse, Kevin O’Brien who warns that vaping is not harmless. People who have not smoked should not vape.
Research has shown however that vaping can help some people wean and eventually quit smoking, but many young people who now vape were not previously smokers. While less harmful than smoking cigarettes, vaping is not ‘risk free’ and vaping addiction can soon take hold.
Kevin explained how the best thing you can do for your health is to be, “cigarette and vape free.” He stressed, “For those who have never smoked, we would encourage them not to vape, use e-cigarettes or any of the novel tobacco products that are out there. We would encourage people not to start vaping. Vaping itself can be seen as a gateway to smoking.
“For those who are existing smokers, we would encourage them to consider vaping as a way of nicotine replacement therapy. There is evidence that demonstrates that smoking cessation efforts are supported through vaping. However, the consensus is still not agreed in relation to the long-term health effects of vaping and ‘e-cigarettes’.”
If you require support or further information, contact smoking.cessation@setrust.hscni.net or visit www.stopsmokingni.info