Seven community pharmacies in England are taking part in a pilot project using vapes as a smoking cessation aid in response to the government’s target of going smoke-free by 2024. Cochrane’s review showed that vapes were as effective as varenicline and plantagenine for six months or more.
A vaping smoking cessation pilot program launched in one UK county
According to The Pharmaceutical Journal on November 19, a Community Pharmacy of England (CPE) in Medway, Kent, is trialing the use of vapes as an aid to quitting smoking.
Seven pharmacies have participated
Seven pharmacies are providing local commissioning services. Smoking cessation counselors will provide coupons and vape supplies for patients to get an entry-level kit.
Patients are entitled to six nicotine replacements, but the service recommends using vapes only in the short term as an aid to quitting smoking. The CPE said the pilot project was in response to the government’s target of making England smoke-free by 2024.
A Cochrane review of data published in September 2023 showed that vapes and some agonists of cigarette tar receptors. Such as varenicline and cytisine, are most effective in helping us quit smoking for six months or longer, with no significant difference in effectiveness between the two. The reviews included data from more than 150,000 participants. The data shows that 10 to 19 percent of people can quit smoking with vapes, 12 to 16 percent with varenicline, and 10 to 18 percent with Plantagenet.
Alastair Buxton, CPE director for NHS services, said:
- “Community pharmacies play an important role in supporting people to quit smoking, but we believe this area can also create more value in terms of national health, aligned with the government’s desire to achieve a smoke-free nation and reduce vape use.”
According to Caroline Cerny, deputy CEO of Action on Smoking and Health,
- “Quitting smoking is not easy, but the study found that in the context of smoking cessation services, vapes are almost twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches and bubble gum.”
In November 2024, NHS England announced that Varenicline would be offered to NHS patients again after being discontinued for three years. The drug was recalled in October 2021 because of concerns that it might contain carcinogens, and Niqline, made by manufacturer Pfizer, contained the unacceptable nitrite compound N-nitroso-varenicline.
