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The number of quitters in the UK is stalling, according to research by the University of Central London (UCL). Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people giving up cigarettes has dropped dramatically. If the government were to stop the media bias against vaping, it could help these number climb again.
The UCL study
The UK government should take note of the implications of a recent study. It showed that vaping is designed as an aid for those who want to quit smoking tobacco. The study, conducted by the UCL and published in the BMC Medicine journal, showed that the number of quitters slowed down during the Covid pandemic.
The research, which was funded by Cancer Research UK, found that from June 2017 to February 2020, smoking decreased by 5.2% per year. However, during the pandemic, the rate of decline fell to 0.3% annually. Based on survey responses, the researchers estimated that the proportion of smokers in England was 16.2% in June 2017, falling to 15.1% by the start of the pandemic. Two-and-a-half years later, in August 2022, this figure remained virtually unchanged at 15%. Dr Sarah Jackson, lead author from the UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, said that bolder measures are now needed to stop smoking and encourage people to quit[1].
Additionally, the NHS has revealed that Smoking-related hospital admissions in England increased by nearly 5% in 2022-23. Thankfully, it’s still lower than before the pandemic[2].
Media bias
According to research done by ecigclick.co.uk over a span of 6 months, the majority (53%) of the articles related to vaping portrayed a negative image. This is significantly higher than the number of positive articles published during the same period[3]. This constant flow of negative information and misinformation about vaping can discourage smokers from considering it as an option to quit smoking.
IBVTA Response
IBVTA Chair, Marcus Saxton, commented:
“This important research from UCL shows that the Government’s smoke free ambition is stalling. The authors also rightly point to the media attention on vaping and the subsequent disconnect between the substantially greater risks from smoking. 43% of smokers believe that vaping is equally or more harmful than smoking, an increase of 60% since 2019. These are truly shocking figures, reflecting the never-ending cycle of negative stories on vaping. Therefore, it is no surprise that smoking rates remain stubbornly high.
The focus on vaping, particularly single use products that are important to quit attempts, is driving this misperception. We welcome proportionate legislation, but these smoking figures show now is not the time to ban those vaping devices and flavours that are crucial to getting smokers to quit tobacco.
There are clear challenges for the vaping sector but through a proportionate and evidence-based approach vaping can remain a vital smoking cessation tool and encourage those smokers to make that switch before it is too late“[4].
That concludes our look at the unfortunate news that the number of quitters in the UK is stalling. If you have any questions, contact us.
Sources
[1] Jackson, S. E. et al. (2023). Have there been sustained impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on trends in smoking prevalence, uptake, quitting, use of treatment, and relapse? A monthly population study in England, 2017–2022.
[2] NHS. (2023). Hospital admissions due to smoking up nearly 5% last year, NHS data shows.
[3] Ecigclick Team. (2022). UK News Media Mainly Negative About Vaping – 6 Month Study Results!
[4] IBVTA. (2023). IBVTA responds to UCL study that shows adult smoking prevalence in England is stalling.
