The government has announced plans to supply free vaping starter kits to stop-smoking services across the country, starting next week, as part of its final push to achieve the Smokefree 2025 goal. The initiative aims to help adult smokers quit cigarettes by providing them with an effective alternative.
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello stated that clients will receive a vape device and a month's supply of nicotine pods each month for three months, along with ongoing support from stop-smoking services. The kits will be available to adult smokers at no cost.
Vaping Proven to be an Effective Tool for Quitting Smoking
Ben Youdan, director of Action for Smokefree 2025, backs the government's plan, citing research that demonstrates the effectiveness of vaping as a tool to help people quit smoking. "There's absolutely no doubt that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking cigarettes," Youdan said. "It's not completely harm-free, but if you're a smoker and you switch to vaping, you can massively reduce the risk of getting sick and risk of dying as a consequence of tobacco use."
New Zealand Reinvigorates Stop Smoking Efforts
Costello emphasized the need for New Zealand to reinvigorate its stop smoking efforts and target the right people to achieve a smoking rate below 5 percent by the end of 2024 and reach the Smokefree 2025 goals. As part of this effort, a new "That's Us, Smokefree 2025" marketing campaign, developed by Hāpai te Hauora, has been launched to target key audiences through social media and localized networks.
Access to Effective Products and Tools Crucial
The government also aims to ensure access to a range of effective products and tools to help smokers quit. Costello expressed hope that a new vaping device can be provided to stop-smoking service providers soon and called for the entire health sector to work together to encourage referrals to these providers.
"Our message for 2025 is that it's always worth trying to quit smoking - that tens of thousands of others have managed to do it - and that there are great people ready to help," Costello said.
The provision of free vaping starter kits is a significant step in the government's efforts to support smokers in their journey to quit cigarettes and improve public health outcomes. By making vaping more accessible and providing support through stop-smoking services, New Zealand is working towards a smokefree future.
