E-cigarettes/Vapes 

In recent years, e-cigarettes have become a very popular stop smoking aid in the UK.

Also known as vapes or e-cigs, they are far less harmful than cigarettes, and can help you quit smoking for good.

They are not recommended for non-smokers and cannot be sold to people under 18 years old.

Cigarettes deliver nicotine along with thousands of harmful chemicals.

An e-cigarette is a device that allows you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke.

E-cigarettes do not burn tobacco and do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most damaging elements in tobacco smoke. Carbon monoxide is particularly harmful to developing babies.

They work by heating a liquid (called an e-liquid) that typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and flavourings.

Using an e-cigarette is known as vaping.

The vapour from an e-cigarette does contain some of the potentially harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke, but at much lower levels.

Little research has been conducted into the safety of e-cigarettes and e-liquids in pregnancy. It is not known whether the vapour is harmful to a baby in pregnancy.

If you're pregnant, licensed NRT products such as patches and gum are the recommended option to help you stop smoking.

But if you find using an e-cigarette helpful for quitting and staying smoke-free, it's much safer for you and your baby than continuing to smoke.

Unlike nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as patches or gum, e-cigarettes are not available on an NHS prescription. If you want to use an e-cigarette, you can still get free expert help from your local stop smoking service. 

More information on using e-cigarettes/vapes to stop smoking can be found on the NHS website here: Using e-cigarettes to stop smoking - NHS