It’s that time of the year where we watch the days get shorter, the weather starts to get a little colder, and some shops start putting up banners telling you to STOP!

That’s right, it’s Stoptober. The annually held drive started by the UKVIA to help those who are smokers to stop, to quit the habit, and move onto a healthier life. This is not a government project, or something sponsored by the NHS, this is the vape industry doing what it first set out to do. In 2023, there were still 6 million smokers in the UK, that is 6 million too many, and while in recent years, thanks to a few bad apples, vaping has gotten a bit of a bad reputation, we are still here trying to do what we set out to do. STOP smokers smoking, reduce the burden of cancer of health services, and promote a healthier lifestyle for all.

So what can you do?

Stop Smoking services through the NHS (NHS stop smoking services help you quit - NHS). The NHS, being one of the most heavily hit sectors when it comes to the effects of Tobacco, provide direction and help where possible to groups and services that will help you heal from your habit. Things like the Better Health (Quit smoking - Better Health - NHS) service will help you plan out and stick to your goals, with information straight from our own NHS to keep you informed. And Yes, they do recommend using an E-cigarette.

ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) also have resources to help here (Stopping Smoking - ASH) which can help put things into perspective. 

Avoid fake news

Don’t let the media dissuade you from quitting smoking either or picking something that is healthier. Good Morning Britain often likes to say that things like lead are in vapes, which is wrong, and the latest from news outlets like Derby telegraph are taking medical studies wildly out of context, completely ignoring all the facts or the final conclusion which states (and this is a quote) “The role of e-cigarette use in the development of stroke is inconclusive, due to the strong effect of prior tobacco use as a risk factor for stroke in the included studies.“ Why does it state that? Because the data shows a lower risk to e-cigarette users than smokers, but most of the subjects in the data will have been smokers! Meaning that even if you see an increase in stroke chance, this could be lingering effects. While we will never say that vaping is perfectly safe, we stand by our statement that vaping is SAFER than smoking. And this study highlights this again, ex-smokers who have quit using e-cigarettes and less likely to have a stroke than those who continue smoking! If you’d like to read the study yourself, here is an NCBI link (Is electronic cigarette use a risk factor for stroke? A systematic review and meta-analysis - PMC)

Let us help you

If you are looking to quit and want some help, drop into your local vape store, chances are you will find someone eagerly waiting to help you. At VapeHQ we have a range of products that we can help you pick from to get what’s right for you. Remember, to quit, going with what is popular isn’t always the right thing to do. An older device might work best for you, or while someone else has quit using a specific brand or nicotine type, you might not get along with them. Our vape advisors can help you with all of this, taking you through what products are available, how they work and in some cases we can let you sample them to see if it hits the spot. 

And it’s not just vapes either, times have changed since the days of Nicorette adverts and you have many more options at your disposal. From Heat not Burn to Nicotine Strips, Pouches and Stix. How you quit is your journey.

Finally, we at VapeHQ and QLabs are launching our new device, the Q2, a very simple device that is built around the idea that your quitting journey does not need to be filled with hassle.