ABSTRACT
Despite the health effects of smoking being known for over 50 years and the health impact being publicised considerably, some 6.9 million individuals in the UK still smoke: 15.9% of men and 12.5% of women. The epidemiology of tobacco smoking is considered in this chapter, along with the health consequences. Further, the increasing availability and usage of e-cigarettes (‘vaping’) is also considered in this chapter. E-cigarettes are currently the most popular stop-smoking aid. While some research has shown e-cigarettes can be an effective smoking cessation tool, most people who vape are dual users. This indicates that e-cigarettes may not be effective in helping people quit smoking entirely but rather act as a complementary method for smoking reduction. This dilemma is explored in this chapter as are the many approaches to smoking and vaping cessation.
