• Stoptober campaign in England is embracing e-cigarettes for the first time
• But only half of smokers think that vaping is less harmful than smoking
• New research of over 7,000 former smokers reveals vaping to be the most effective way of giving up

A national survey of 7,464 former smokers has revealed that ex‐smokers say vaping is the most effective way to give up. The research showed that from their own experiences of giving up, 33% of former smokers found e‐cigarettes were the most effective method.

However, the research found that there is still a lack of public awareness around e‐cigarettes. Amongst the smokers surveyed, only 52% said they viewed vaping as less harmful than smoking. And only a quarter of the general public said they would recommend vaping products to a smoker looking to quit.

Last month, for the first time, Public Health England announced its annual Stoptober campaign would back e-cigarettes. In 2015 the agency published an independent review on e‐cigarettes which concluded that they believe, based on best estimates, that devices are around 95% less harmful than smoking*. Today’s latest research also supports many publicly available studies, including from the British Psychological Society, that indicate that vaping may provide support or an alternative for smokers who want to quit smoking.

Joining us in the studio to discuss the findings is Nigel Hardy.