Information on Electronic Cigarettes

What support can I get from
Hertfordshire Stop Smoking
Service whilst using an
e–cigarette to stop smoking?
For further
Information
Information
on Electronic
Cigarettes
Proof
Hertfordshire Stop Smoking Service can offer
behavioural support and advice to people
who want to use an e–cigarette to help them
quit. They can also offer advice on the range
of licensed stop smoking medicines available.
People who use an e–cigarette alongside expert
support from the Stop Smoking Services have
some of the highest rates of success in quitting
smoking.
Remember…
Thousands of people have successfully
quit smoking with the help of their local
Stop Smoking Service.
Can e–cigarettes be used
during pregnancy?
Pregnant women should always be advised to
quit in one step and with specialist support.
Any risks to the unborn child from exposure
to e–cigarette vapour are as yet unknown.
Pregnant women are advised to use licensed
stop smoking medicines if they need support to
stop smoking. However if they choose to use
an e–cigarette it is much preferable to smoking
or relapsing.
Mental Health
People with mental health conditions are
more likely to smoke heavily. They may prefer
e–cigarettes to other forms of NRT or use
both simultaneously to reach higher levels
of nicotine.
Visit
www.hertsdirect.org/stopsmoking
Contact Hertfordshire
Stop Smoking Service
on: 0800 389 3 998
or 01442 453071
or you can email:
stopsmokingservice @hertscc.gcsx.gov.uk
What are electronic cigarettes?
Are e–cigarettes safe?
An electronic cigarette, or e–cigarette, is a
device for inhaling vapour that usually contains
nicotine. Unlike normal cigarettes, e–cigarettes
don’t burn tobacco. There are different types
of e–cigarettes: some look like real cigarettes,
whilst there are new generation tanks that can
vary in size and appearance.
E–cigarettes are not completely risk–free,
though experts agree they are 95% safer than
smoking*. E–cigarettes are still fairly new and
we don’t yet know about any impacts from
longer–term use. However, even allowing for
this uncertainty, it is better to use an
e–cigarette than to smoke. E–cigarettes are
only recommended for smokers trying to quit,
reduce their levels of smoking or to prevent
relapse back to smoking.
Are there any other concerns
about e–cigarettes?
Proof
What do e–cigarettes contain
and how do they work?
E–cigarettes contain a battery, a heating
element and either a cartridge containing
e–liquid or a ‘tank’ that can be filled with
e–liquid. E–liquid typically contains propylene
glycol or glycerine, together with nicotine
and flavouring. Sucking air through the
e–cigarette triggers the heater to create
vapour and inhaling the vapour delivers a hit
of nicotine.
First Generation
E–cigarette
Vapour
Inhaled to
simulate smoke,
delivers the
nicotine.
Re-chargeable
lithium ion battery
LED Light
Illuminates
when inhaled.
Nicotine Cartridge
Holds a liquid nicotine
and propylene
glycol solution
(solvents used in
food colouring).
Will e–cigarettes help me
quit smoking?
Evidence indicates that e–cigarettes can help
smokers cut down or stop smoking completely.
People can use an e–cigarette alongside expert
support from stop smoking service.
Are e–cigarettes available
on prescription from your
Stop Smoking Service?
Currently there are no e–cigarette products
which are available to be prescribed. When
licensed products come onto the market, they
may be available on prescription alongside other
stop smoking medicines.
Atomisation Chamber
Heats the solution,
vaporising it.
Second
Generation
Third Generation
*Public Health England: E-cigarettes: an evidence update (2015)
• Gateway for young people
There are concerns that e–cigarettes with
their flavourings and clever marketing may
act as a ‘gateway into smoking’ for children
and non–smokers. There is no evidence so
far that this is happening and smoking rates
among both adults and children continue to
fall. From 1st October 2015 it became illegal
to sell e–cigarettes to under–18s and for
adults to buy e–cigarettes on their behalf.
• Nicotine poisoning risk
There is a risk of poisoning from ingestion
of e–liquid, as with all products containing
nicotine, e–cigarettes and e–liquids should
always be kept out of the reach of children.
• Fire risk
There have been reported cases of house
fires caused by faulty e–cigarette batteries
and chargers. To avoid the risk of fire,
as with other electrical devices, always
use the correct charger and never leave
e–cigarettes charging unattended or
overnight.
• Use with home care oxygen
E–cigarettes should never be used
(nor their batteries recharged) in the vicinity
of homecare oxygen as there have been
reported cases of ignition and fire in such
circumstances.