National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT); 2025.
NCSCT stopping vaping v9
This guidance is directed to stop smoking practitioners to guide clients who ask about stopping vaping. The NCSCT guidance provides practical advice for stop‑smoking practitioners on how to support people who want to stop vaping, while ensuring they do not relapse to smoking. It recognises that many people use vaping as an effective stop‑smoking aid, but some eventually want to quit vaping — either gradually or immediately.
Key Points:
Clients can choose to stop vaping gradually (reducing nicotine strength, reducing frequency) or in one step, depending on personal preference and relapse risk.
Vaping is an effective quitting tool, and NICE recommends using vapes for as long as they help prevent relapse to smoking. The main priority when assisting someone to quit vaping is avoiding a return to cigarette use. [ncsct.co.uk]
Support should be tailored to the person’s stage of quitting and their risk of relapse. This includes understanding their reasons for wanting to stop vaping.
Stopping vaping does not require a full behavioural support programme. Instead, practitioners should offer information, reassurance, and guidance. [ncsct.co.uk]
The guidance suggests using the familiar Ask, Advise, Act model to structure conversations with clients.