Service starts to help young people quit vapes

A service to help young people in Guernsey to stop vaping has promised to support those "struggling to quit" by themselves.

QuitVape will run for an initial pilot period of six months and was available to young people aged 12-18.

Set up by Public Health Services, in collaboration with Action for Children, care leavers will be able to use the service up to the age of 25.

Personal sessions and nicotine replacement therapy will be provided for those heavily addicted.

Aaron Davies, Service Manager at Action for Children, said it was intended to "provide specific support to those struggling to quit on their own".

Coinciding with regulation implemented at the start of this month banning the sale of vapes to under 18s, QuitVape aims to help young people reduce their use due to potential health risks that come with addiction.

Help would be available in three tiers, including a self-help booklet available both online and at schools and community spaces, along with six face-to-face sessions offering vape tapering advice and extended behavioural support.

Also provided are personal sessions provided by the School Nursing team for those more heavily addicted.

These offer immediate vaping cessation and nicotine replacement therapy.

Alex Hawkins-Drew, Associate Director of Public Health, called the pilot "a real team effort", while Katie Hill, School Nurse Team Leader, said it was "fantastic news" for those trying to cut down or quit.

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