The UK's national 'Swap 2 Stop' programme continues to spread across the country. The aim is to offer free e-cigarettes to one million smokers through community smoking cessation centres. In the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole conurbations in the south of England, thousands were already smoke-free four weeks into the programme.

Large-scale efforts yield results in Dorset

A new UK initiative, "Swap 2 Stop", is gaining momentum across the UK with the ambition to get one million smokers to quit using free e-cigarettes.

In the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas of Dorset, the programme has already helped thousands on the road to a smoke-free life. Four weeks after the programme started, 3,562 participants were smoke-free, according to the local newspaper Daily Echo.

Since the programme's launch in 2023, 14,801 e-cigarette starter packs have been distributed in Dorset.

Smoking out - steaming in

The programme is led locally by Public Health Dorsetwho want to support smokers in the transition from tobacco smoke to vapour.

- We are delighted that our 'Swap 2 Stop' programme has helped thousands of people across Dorset - Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole - to quit smoking and improve their health," says Rachel Partridge, Acting Director of Public Health Dorset, to Daily Echo.

The initiative is part of the UK government's goal to make the country smoke-free by 2030 - defined as less than five per cent of the population smoking. Also behind the initiative are London Tobacco Allianceworking towards a smoke-free future across the UK.

Support and health guidance for up to 12 weeks

Public Health Dorset emphasises that vaping is not risk-free, but is far less harmful than traditional smoking. At the same time, Rachel Partridge emphasises that breaking the addiction to tobacco can be difficult, and she encourages more people to seek help.

Through the local health programme LiveWell Dorset citizens who want to quit smoking can get up to 12 weeks of support - either through their GP or pharmacy.

The programme "Swap 2 Stop" initially runs for two years and is coordinated with community smoking cessation centres across the country, just like in Dorset.

Most ex-smokers use e-cigarettes

According to the UK advocacy organisation Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), more than half of ex-smokers who quit in the last five years have used e-cigarettes as part of their quit programme. This equates to approximately 2.7 million Brits.