A Cheat Code to Quit Smoking

CRUK says that the study aimed “to explore views on the use and appeal of disposable e-cigarettes in a demographically diverse sample of UK adults with different histories of smoking and disposable e-cigarettes use.”

Researchers recruited 40 participants for in-depth interviews. Each person offered up their personal different history of smoking, and then detailed their use of disposable/single use vapes. 

The team state that there was an overall representation from a range of ethnic groups but note that the majority of the participants were of a ‘white’ background. They say the sample group had a broadly equal gender split and included 18 participants from lower economic backgrounds and 22 from higher economic backgrounds.  

What did they find out?

CRUK say that the main reason given by vapers of choosing to primarily use single use/disposable vapes over other vaping products was:

• Convenience
• low initial cost
• ease of use
• access

It was noted that users understood that rechargeable vapes would prove to be cheaper in the long term. 

The reason given by most for vaping over smoking is that it is seen as being more socially acceptable. This didn’t apply to all as some believe their choice to vape little to no impact on their relationships and social behaviour. 

Some participants in the research programme said that disposable/single use vapes work so well for them because they replicate the process of smoking and thereby act as an effective quit tool. One phrase used to describe them was that disposables are “a cheat code to quit smoking”.

Other related findings

CRUK says: “There were mixed views on health impact: some saw e-cigarettes as a healthier alternative to smoking, whilst others reported minor negative health impacts from vaping (e.g. nausea and coughing).”

The charity noted that some participants expressed concerns about youths using vapes, the resulting potential for nicotine addiction and that there are unknown long-term health harms from the use of disposable/single-use products.  

Also, despite this being a regular topic of concern for over two years, participants expressed concern about the environmental impact of discarded disposables vapes, with people saying that even now they are unaware of how to properly dispose of them and where single use products should be recycled.

To ban or not to ban?

CRUK says: “Further restrictions were welcomed to prevent young people from accessing disposable e-cigarettes. However, a potential ban on disposable e-cigarettes was thought to indicate they were more harmful than cigarettes, and more harmful than originally considered.

“In the event of further restrictions on disposable e-cigarettes, it is unclear whether users would quit both tobacco and e-cigarettes entirely, switch to using refillable e-cigarettes or revert to smoking tobacco. The people at highest risk of reverting to sole state tobacco use appear to be those who currently both smoke and use e-cigarettes.”

In conclusion, “based on both the findings of this report and the wider literature and political context”, Cancer Research UK is recommending action in the following areas: 

• Ensure people who smoke still have access to a wide range of cessation options, including refillable/reusable e-cigarettes. 
• Reduce vaping in young people and those who have never smoked. 
• Ensure regulation is fit for purpose and effectively enforced. 

 References:

• Disposable e-cigarettes Use and appeal for smoking cessation in adults - https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/sites/default/files/disposable_e-cigarettes_-_the_use_and_appeal_for_smoking_cessation_for_adults_september_2024_1.pdf

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.