Hello Bigboss!! How are you today? Hope you are always healthy, blessed with good fortune, and all your activities are made easy!!

Discussing emerging evidence from a trial looking at the feasibility of distributing vapes to homeless people addicted to cigarettes, in this episode Assistant Professor Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Dr Nicola Lindson interview the study's author Dr Sharon Cox.

While smoking rates in the UK have reached a record low, a substantial gap remains between disadvantaged groups, and smoking prevalence among homeless adults remains four times higher than the national average. To this effect, a trial was conducted to look at the feasibility of distributing e-cigarettes to smokers attending homeless centres in the UK. The aim of this trial was to determine whether providing free e-cigarette starter kits to these individuals would improve their health and ease the financial burden of purchasing cigarettes.

The study also estimated parameters to inform possible future trials conducted on a larger scale. As part of this trial, four homeless centers in the UK were allocated to either the Usual Care (UC) or E-cigarette (EC) group. 32 participants in the UC group received smoking cessation advice and were offered support by their local Stop Smoking Service. 48 participants in the EC group were given a vape starter kit with a 4-week supply of e-liquid.

In the January 12th episode of Oxford Podcasts, Jamie Hartmann-Boyce spoke with study author Dr Sharon Cox, Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Behavioural Science and Health of the Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group at University College London. Cox discussed future trials, stating that participants would be provided with a tank-style refillable EC starter kit, a choice of strong nicotine e-liquid and flavors, and an EC fact sheet. E-liquid would be supplied for four weeks at weekly intervals by center staff. Participants would be given time to try different flavors and nicotine strengths at the outset and have the option to switch between flavors.

Receiving vape starter kits showed more smoking cessation success

While results from previous studies showed that in both groups, depression and anxiety scores decreased during the study. However, the group that received vape starter kits showed more smoking cessation success. "The EC intervention was well received with minimal negative effects and very few unwanted consequences (e.g., lost, stolen, adding illicit substances)," the researchers reported.

"Substance dependence scores remained constant. Assuming those lost to follow-up data smoked, CO validated continuous abstinence at 24 weeks was 3/48 (6.25%) and 0/32 (0%) for the EC and UC groups respectively."

"Providing e-cigarette starter kits to smokers experiencing homelessness was associated with reasonable recruitment and retention rates and promising evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness," the researchers concluded.

So, that's the article for this occasion. Hopefully, an article like this can be new insight for you vapers. Of course, if you want to share and gain more insight about vapes, you can directly visit the nearest Vapeboss retail store, where you will be assisted by our Vaporista and given a lot of information about the world of vapes. Also, if you lack vape supplies and have difficulty buying them, you can contact our retail WA for purchases with a COD system. Because Vapeboss has been the most complete and trusted vape shop since 2014, any vape needs you have will surely be available there.

Besides WA Retail, you can shop through our Online Store (click here), Shopee (click here) and Tokopedia (click here). Because there you can find your vape needs such as Liquid, Coil, Cotton, Batteries, and much more.

Keep Calm and Vape Like a Boss and Always stay safe while vaping and always adhere to health protocols during the current pandemic. Have a nice day Bigboss!