Did you know?
You’re 3x more likely to quit with our support.
E-cigarettes (Vapes)
E-cigarettes (often called vapes) are the most popular stop-smoking tool in England. They help tens of thousands of people break their tobacco habit completely every single year.
Learn more about switching to e-cigarettes
Get a Free Vape Starter Kit in Sheffield
If you are an adult smoker, switching entirely to a vape is one of the fastest, most effective ways to significantly reduce the damage to your health, boost your daily energy, and save yourself thousands of pounds.
You do not need a prescription from a GP to get started. If you live in Sheffield, are over 18, and want to quit smoking, Smokefree Sheffield can provide you with:
- A high-quality, rechargeable vape starter kit completely free.
- Up to 12 weeks of free e-liquid refills, tailored to your normal nicotine level.
- Dedicated 1-on-1 coaching to help you manage your daily habits and eventually step down your vaping, too.
(If you don’t want to use our free service, regulated vapes can also be bought safely from specialist local vape shops, trusted pharmacies, and supermarkets).
E-cigarettes help over 50,000 people successfully quit smoking each year across the country.
E-cigarettes for quitting smoking
E-cigarettes (or vapes) are an incredibly effective, NHS-approved stop smoking aid.
How it works: E-cigarettes work by heating an e-liquid containing clean nicotine to create a vapour that you inhale. This instantly satisfies your chemical cravings and hand-to-mouth physical habits, but without producing any of the toxic tar, carbon monoxide, or many other cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke.
How to use it: You swap your regular cigarettes for the vape device. Over time, you can steadily reduce the nicotine content and step down your usage until you are completely nicotine-free.
Who can use it? Any adult smoker aged 18 and over can use vapes to quit. If you are pregnant, licensed NRT products (like patches or gum) are the first recommended option, but switching completely to a vape is significantly safer for you and your baby than continuing to smoke tobacco.
Please note: Vapes are strictly an adult harm-reduction tool. If you do not already smoke tobacco, do not start vaping.
Different types of e-cigarettes
Different types of e-cigarettes
To give yourself the absolute best chance of quitting, and to protect our local environment, we strongly advise using a rechargeable, refillable device. Disposable vapes are now banned.
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Pod Systems (Highly Recommended):
Shaped like a small pebble or USB stick. You simply click in a refillable liquid “pod” and recharge the battery via a standard USB cable. They are discreet, incredibly easy to take care of, and the most popular choice among our successful quitters.
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Vape pens
Shaped like a standard pen or small tube. They feature a clear glass tank that you top up with your chosen liquid and a battery that lasts all day.
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Mods
They come in different shapes and sizes, but are usually the largest vaping devices. They have a refillable tank and longer-lasting rechargeable batteries.
Getting Your Nicotine Strength Right
Choosing the correct liquid strength is the secret to making sure you don’t slip back to cigarettes. There are lots of different types of e-liquid for use in an e-cigarette. There are nicotine-free e-liquids; however, the addition of nicotine is recommended to help you manage your cravings, as nicotine is the addictive ingredient in tobacco. If your liquid is too weak, your brain will still crave tobacco. If it is too strong, it can feel harsh on your throat.
E-Liquid comes in a range of nicotine strengths from 0mg to 20mg, which are considered low to high concentrations.
- 0mg – nicotine-free.
- 3mg-5mg – low concentration.
- 6mg-11mg – low to medium concentration.
- 12-17mg – medium to high concentration.
- 18-20mg – high concentration.
The UK has one of the most comprehensive systems of regulation for e-cigarette products in the world, including high standards of safety and quality and packaging and labelling requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is vaping worse than smoking?
No. Comprehensive, world-leading UK public health reviews show that regulated vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking tobacco.
Will vaping give me ‘popcorn lung’?
No. This is a very common internet myth. “Popcorn lung” was linked to a chemical flavouring called diacetyl. This chemical was banned from all UK-regulated e-liquids by law years ago.
Can I use a vape at the same time as a nicotine patch?
Yes! In fact, this is an incredible strategy for heavy smokers. You wear the patch on your arm for steady, all-day background relief and take a puff from the vape only when a sudden, stressful craving hits.
What if I just want to cut down my smoking first?
That works too. Our “Cut Down to Quit” pathway allows you to swap out half of your daily cigarettes for a vape, slowly stepping down your tobacco use at a pace that feels comfortable and manageable to you.
Ready to swap the smoke for a vape?
You don't have to guess which vapes to buy. Our friendly Sheffield advisors are ready to set you up with your free 12-week kit and show you exactly how to use it. Get in touch to see if you are elligible today.