lifelifevapefree.org.uk
Empowering individuals to quit vaping.
From current e-Cigarette users, concerned parents and teachers, to vaping cessation therapists - come together against nicotine addiction in the form of vaping.
Helping to protect our future - the youth of today.
Empowering individuals to quit vaping.
From current e-Cigarette users, concerned parents and teachers, to vaping cessation therapists - come together against nicotine addiction in the form of vaping.
Helping to protect our future - the youth of today.
My Story
Founder, Dr Marc Picot
A Doctor and ex-vaper aware of the difficulties in beating nicotine addiction in the form of vaping, I created this mission as a passion project. A last resort attempt and failed experiment at treating a side effect of a medication, it was too late. It took a while to realise, and accept, that I was addicted to vaping.
After seeking professional help with limited success due to the current evidence base for treating vaping being small and resources being rightly focused on smoking cessation taking precedence, I decided to do my delve deep into my own research. Collating resources along the way, using my medical background to translate the information I found into how evidence and information could be used for vaping addiction, I created this project to help anyone who feels they are in need of help with vaping cessation.
Along the way, some of the stories I heard were deeply concerning. Children committing criminal acts to get hold of vapes by theft and 9 year olds being caught vaping in schools. Vapers desperately wanting help to break the nicotine addiction feeling stuck and a slave to their vape but not knowing where to turn for help.
So came this mission, based on supporting anybody wishing to quit vaping and raise awareness of the current issues we as a society currently face. An issue that all society should take with paramount importance – health, and in particular the health of our younger generations and future.
Understanding The Problem
Designed to Help Ex-Smokers
Before I go any further, it is very important to state – I am not anti-vaping in its entirety. Vaping is supported by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) as a method to help smokers quit, and should be used solely for this purpose which I support.
However, there is increasing uptake by individuals who have never smoked before who are now taking up vaping and becoming addicted to nicotine – and these are the people I a targeting to help beat their addiction.
However, in my humble opinion, vaping should be seen as a means to an end for smokers too, which can sometimes take years – but not a lifelong replacement. This is also supported by the National Centre for Smoking Cessation Treatment, who advise considering stopped vaping after 12 months of smoking abstinence, but importantly state in case of relapse that ex-smokers return to vaping and not cigarettes. Yet there is little advice and support about how this should practically be done, for smokers or never-smokers. I believe an informative discussion should be held, and an informed decision made by the person and their decision respected.
There is also a growing body of evidence that vaping is indeed associated with long-term health risks in itself, as well of those of nicotine, which is not a completely harmless substance although far less harmful than smoking.
The message is clear – if you have never smoked: don’t vape. Take it from me personally.
Health Concerns
Nicotine is the third most addictive drug behind heroin and cocaine.
In itself is has known health risks, and at present, we do not know in great detail the long-term risks of vaping – largely because it hasn’t been around long enough to collate such data. However, data is now emerging of harmful effects, related to various body organ systems.
Moreover, there is a common saying in the medical field: ‘absence of evidence does not mean evidence of absence’. Put simply, the fact we don’t have the data on vaping does not mean it doesn’t cause health risks – only time will tell, and the early signs aren’t good. Nicotine levels in disposables vapes in particular are sky-high, with estimates varying from 1-2 packs of cigarettes – increasing the likehood of addiction further.
Vaping has also been associated as a gateway to smoking – with a 3-fold increase in risk. Furthermore, being addicted to one drug increases your chance of addiction in general – be it other drugs, social media or gambling.
And particularly concerningly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) states their is evidence that nicotine exposure has detrimental effects on the growing brain – up to 25.
Do we really want to let a growing vaping rate go under-recognised and under-stated, to increase the risk of harm to the general population and our younger generations in particular because ‘we don’t have the evidence for vaping’? Yet we do for nicotine and addiction.
Think about it another way – if I told you to take a pill for the rest of your life that ‘we don’t have the evidence for its long-term harm yet’ – would you do it? People who are addicted to the substance in that pill might.
The Growing Epidemic
Here are some statistics revealing the worrying trend in vaping use in Jersey:
2023, Adults1
1 in 10 were currently using vapes. Half of those aged 16 to 34-years-old had used vapes – of these, almost 1 in 3 had never smoked cigarettes. 1 in 10 adults in total had never smoked, with overall usage up 19% in since 2022.
2021, 0-18 year olds2
Over half (58%) of 17-18 year olds had tried vaping, with nearly 1 in 3 using them currently. This had risen 12% from 2018
1 in 5 of 15-16 year olds currently use vapes, and 1 in 50 aged 13-14 years.
The next Survey for Children and Adolescents is due in 2025.
UK, 2024 – 11-17 year olds3
In 2024, 1 in 5 of 11–17-year-olds who have tried vaping amounts to around 980,000
children. Over half of these (53% of ever vapers, or 1 in 10 of all youth) had only tried once
or twice (520,000 children), with 3.0% of all youth vaping less than once a week (160,000
children), and 4.2% more than once a week (230,000 children)
To read the latest full reports for both Jersey and the UK, please click on the references button below.
The Mission
To raise awareness of a growing health epidemic, create a vault of useful resources for all of those motivated to quit vaping, and in particular target the most vulnerable demographic - children and young adults.
To raise awareness of a growing health epidemic, create a vault of useful resources for those motivated to quit vaping, and target the most vulnerable demographic - children and young adults.
A CALL TO ACTION FOR CURRENT VAPERS
Have you considered quitting for whatever reason?
Do you feel trapped by addiction?
Would you consider help in the form of a mobile phone app to increase your chances of success?
We want to help YOU!