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Smoking and Vaping
This page has been created by Youth Out Loud! and CTRL-Z. CTRL-Z is the youth element of Kick-it, which is the local Stop Smoking Service.
The focus of their work is to undo the influence of the tobacco industry and prevent smoking behaviours among young people aged 11-21 in Kingston.
CTRL-Z provide awareness and prevention with regards to smoking, vaping, shisha and the impact of tobacco companies on young people.
What is smoking and vaping?
Smoking is the practice of inhaling and exhaling the smoke produced by burning plant material, most commonly tobacco. This act involves inhaling the smoke into the lungs, where it enters the bloodstream and affects various parts of the body. While various materials can be smoked, the term "smoking" is most frequently associated with tobacco use in cigarettes.
Vaping is the act of inhaling an aerosol produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device. These devices, also known as e-cigarettes, vape pens, or mods, heat a liquid (e-liquid) until it turns into an aerosol that the user inhales. The e-liquid typically contains nicotine, flavourings, and other chemicals.
What is in a cigarette?
There are plenty of chemicals found in cigarettes, many unhealthy:
‘At least 70 chemicals in tobacco smoke cause cancer.’ – Cancer Research UK
The image below from Ctrl-Zs slides presented to young people shows some of the different chemicals found in cigarettes.
What is the cost of smoking cigarettes?
Smoking cigarettes can be expensive and quitting smoking can save you a lot of money. Below Ctrl-Z set out what a heavy smoker could do with their money if they were no longer spending it on smoking.
What health conditions are linked to smoking and vaping?
There are lots of health conditions linked to smoking. The image below from Ctrl-Z shows some of the risks associated with smoking such as stroke, heart disease and different cancers.
Vaping is reasonably new, and long-term risks are not yet known, but short-term effects of vaping are detailed in the videos below.:
Vaping is a very useful tool to help adults stop smoking. But there are concerns that vaping can lead to smoking, and vaping is not something for non-smokers, especially young people, to try. The NHS say ‘Their developing lungs and brains mean they are more sensitive to its effects.’
The NHS also has a page explaining myths and facts about vaping.
If you smoke, vaping is much safer; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape.
- Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England
Effects on the brain
Martin Dockrell, the Tobacco Control Programme Lead for the Department of Health and Social Care says:
‘When you’re a teenager your brain is developing fast. Nicotine gets into your brain and mimics natural brain chemicals that make you feel good. But it also stimulates your brain’s appetite for more. It re-wires your brain, changing the brain chemistry so that soon your brain is craving more and more nicotine all the time. If you don’t get some it makes you feel anxious, you can’t concentrate on the things that matter. You’re constantly thinking about when you can get more. You begin to lose control over your choice to vape or not.’
Shisha
Smoking Shisha is becoming more popular and with sweet flavours can be tempting. People need to be careful as it is easy to ‘smoke heavily’ without realising.
In a shisha session (which usually lasts 20-80 minutes), a shisha smoker can inhale the same amount of smoke as a cigarette smoker consuming over 100 cigarettes.
- British Heart Foundation
Getting support to stop smoking or vaping
If you are looking for support to help you stop smoking, you can speak directly to Ctrl-Z as well as accessing support through your GP, pharmacist or NHS app.
Ctrl-Z: Kick it
Kick It is the free stop smoking service that is available to anyone who lives, works or studies in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
NHS: Better Health
Access trusted information about vaping from Better Health - the NHS online information service.
Young Minds
Find out more about addiction, the signs and symptoms, and what support is out there.
British Heart Foundation
To keep your heart healthy, you can make small lifestyle changes to help you quit smoking.
Want to get involved?
Young volunteers have a role in speaking up for other young people, telling professionals what young people think about health & care services and advising what young people need.
The views, experiences and efforts of YOL! volunteers have the power to influence those who run services to make changes and improvements.