Smoking and Vaping

“Is it worth stopping?“

The short answer is YES! But we’re not here to tell you what you should do and we know quitting is tough – especially if your smoking/vaping helps you to socialise or control anxious habits like skin picking or nail biting! We’re here to tell you the facts so you can think more about making healthier choices.

Reasons to think about quitting smoking/vaping:

• You’ll have more money – See below to calculate your savings.
• You’ll breath easier and feel better – See NHS One You website for what happens when you quit
• You’ll enjoy eating food more
• You’ll have more energy – Can dance longer without getting out of breath.

If you stop you’ll help save the planet:

• Tobacco production accounts for 5% of overall deforestation in the world!
  
• Cigarette butts and e-cigarettes litter damages wildlife and marine life. See Keep Britain Tidy website
  
• Vapes contain metals, which take many years to decompose, and plastic never fully decomposes, plastic turns into “microplastics,” or tiny pieces of plastic, which continue to pollute the environment and our food and drinking water.
  
• Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries which can cause wildfires if not recycled.

“When you buy a vape are you checking how to correctly dispose of it?” 

“Disposable vapes will be banned in the UK from June 1st, 2025, and this is partly to help crack down on their environmental impact.”

Add up how much you spend on cigs or vapes each week (£12?) and multiply that by 52. How much money could you save in a year if you didn’t smoke or vape? (£624???)

Vaping, E-Cigarettes, E-cigs – know the facts

“Don’t pass the puff – it’s not share-worthy!”

Vaping was meant to help people quit smoking, but young people are vaping who have never smoked before as they find their bright packaging and flavours appealing.

Fact: You must be 18 years old to purchase e-cigarettes or e-liquids from any UK vape shop or online store.

Test your knowledge of vaping…

What NHS experts, say… “Vapes are safer than smoking, but only safer when compared to smoking cigarettes.” – Not much is known about the risks of vaping, especially for young people. Watch the video below…  

Reasons to think about not being a vaper?

• Addiction – If you vape you’re three times more likely to start smoking because vape liquids contain nicotine which is very addictive. 
  
• Brain risks – Nicotine affects your brain development. Our brain develops up until we are 25 years old. Using nicotine while your body and mind is developing can be harmful – to mental health, growth, and cause headaches and sleep problems.  
  
• Sports – Vaping can make it harder to do well in sports because of lung inflammation (irritation).
  
• Tooth decay – Vaping and e-cigarettes cause mouth ulcers, soreness and a dry mouth which can lead to tooth decay.
  
• You’re being targeted –  Tobacco companies make millions targeting young people with their fancy flavours of e-cigarettes and colourful packaging to deceive us into thinking it’s not bad so you’ll become their next lifetime customer.
  
• If you have asthma – It’s unknown how safe vaping is if you have asthma!
  
• Toxins (poisons) – Vapes and e-cigarettes can be harmful to your lungs due to the chemicals and toxins in them which you are inhaling. Side effects can be – headaches, coughs, sore throats, dizziness, nausea, popcorn lung.
  

“Vaping makes you lose aura!”

What you should know about illegal Vapes…  

• They’re dangerous and being sold on the high streets with nicotine strength above 20mg/ml which is the UK legal limit.
• They contain high levels of chemicals such as lead, nickel and chromium that can cause strokes, cell and DNA damage.
• They may contain dodgy substances or even hair has been found in them.

Tips to stop vaping

1. Work out why you want to stop vaping.  Make a list of all the reasons why you want to stop and when it gets difficult, remember to look at this list to remind you.  
   
2. Decide the best way for you to quit…  

• Reduce your puffs each day – Try cutting down your puffs day by day and how long you go without inhaling – from every 30 minutes to every 1 hour. 
• Gradually reduce the strength of nicotine in your e-liquid.

3. Set rules – This can help weaken the link between vaping in certain situations and times of day.  

1. Think of the times of day and places which trigger you to vape most.
2. What could you do instead to try to reduce and avoid vaping during these times and places?
   For example – I will only vape when I walk home on a Monday or Friday! I will only vape when I am in the garden!

4. Visit your local Pharmacy or GP – You can ask your pharmacist or GP for information to help quit.

Download our Stop Vaping Guide for Young People.

Tips to stop smoking

1.Work out the reasons why you want to stop to keep you motivated

2.Make a plan for how to reduce the amount of cigarettes you smoke in a day – set your rules for quitting.

3.Stop smoking in one go – If you want to completely stop smoking and are over the age of 12, speak to a pharmacist for advice.

You can Order a free quit kit – (if you are 18+) through your local pharmacy to help increase your chances of quitting.
Get some great tips to help you quit from the NHS website.

4. Look at Smoking and Vaping resources on Feel Good Suffolk

5. Try the NHS Quit Plan tool – In 4 easy steps, the Personal Quit Plan tool from Better Health can help you quickly find the combination that’s right for you. Give up for 28 days, and you’re 5 times more likely to quit smoking for good!