Quit your way

Content Trade winds is an Interdisciplinary Resource Pack aimed at P5-P7 classes across Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board areas.  The programme extends across all curricular areas and correlates with 44 Level 2 experiences and outcomes.  Trade winds offers a holistic approach to tobacco education that goes beyond health and explores issues that are relevant to young people. 

Published by Ash Scotland, as part 1 of the Tobacco-free Secondary Schools Resource, this guide is intended to support a school through the steps required in order to become a tobacco-free school.  It explains the background, why it is important and key issues.   This guide replaces the previous “Tobacco-free Schools – Helping You Achieve It” guide by Smokefree Services and Ash Scotland. 

The guide breaks down the process into 10 steps – and these are laid out in a very practical way that is easy to follow.  There is a suite of templates available to guide the schools through the process – these can be found in Appendix 1 and are fully editable Microsoft Word documents.  

Two thirds of smokers start before they are 18. Most say they regret having done so. Every day in Scotland, a classroom full of young people take up smoking – that’s 15,000 young Scots each year.  There are many different factors which lead young people to smoke, but the extent to which tobacco is prominent, normal or accepted around them plays a crucial part. 

Quit Your Way Youth Service aims to give young people information about smoking and tobacco to allow them to make informed decisions.  The service gives young people easy access to facts about smoking and information on how to access local support to stop smoking. 

Quit Your Way Youth Service covers the following: 

• Stop Smoking Service for young people 

• Prevention and Education: resources and support for schools and youth organisations 
• Policy guidance for schools and youth organisations 
• Protecting families and communities from second hand smoke 
• Research and partnership working in tobacco prevention and control 

The Jenny and the Bear resource is a story which is part of a coordinated programme and aims to increase awareness about the effects of second hand smoke on children and what parents/carers can do to ensure their children are not exposed to its harmful effects. 

The programme is aimed at Primary 1 classes and consists of a story being read to the class followed by a classroom activity to agree a name for the bear in the story, which is then entered into the competition to win a Teddy Bear mascot for their classroom.  All children who take part in the programme will be given a booklet version of the story to take home. 

The second hand smoke message also links with the Scottish Government national “Take it right outside” campaign.  See www.rightoutside.org for further information. 

If you would like your Primary 1 classes to participate in the programme please compete the registration form below by no later than Monday 19th December 2022.  

The 21 – 26th June is Love Your Lungs Week 2022. Every year, Asthma & Lung UK (formerly the British Lung Foundation) campaigns to raise awareness for lung health, and we are pleased to be supporting them.

Our lungs, just like our heart, joints, and other parts of our body, age with time. By adopting certain healthy habits, we can better maintain the strength and flexibility of our lungs, and keep them working better for longer. That’s why we have created a calendar with a hints and tips on improving your lung capacity and your overall lung health. We will have challenges throughout this week, so make sure you follow our Facebook Page for more details.

E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are battery-powered devices that simulate the sensation of smoking. They generally consist of a mouthpiece, battery and cartridge. These devices heat a liquid to generate an aerosol, or a ‘vapour’, which you then inhale. The liquids typically contain flavourings, additives and nicotine. Because the liquid is heated and not burned and contains no tobacco, the nicotine is delivered without many of the thousands of chemicals which cause the significant harm and damage to the body.

Types of e-cigarettes

Cig-a-like’ products: Early models (First Generation) of e-cigarettes look like cigarettes in shape and size and sometimes referred to as ‘cigalikes’. They include both non-rechargeable disposable models and reusable models. Not many people use these types of products now.

‘Tank’ models or vape pens: An e-cigarette with a rechargeable atomiser – the part that vaporises the e-liquid) – and a tank which needs to be filled with an e-liquid.

Pod systems: These are small rechargeable devices, often shaped like a USB stick or a pebble and use e-liquid capsules. They are simple to use and to maintain.

‘Mods’, or advanced personal vaporisers: A more complex tank model which can be manually customised, for example by adjusting the power on the device.

Are e-cigarettes safe?

“E-cigarettes have been available for purchase for just over a decade in Scotland. They have become increasingly popular. Based on current evidence, vaping an e-cigarette is definitely less harmful than smoking tobacco”. NHS Health Scotland

E-cigarettes are not harmless but experts agree that vaping is definitely less harmful that smoking tobacco. Thus, it would be a good thing if smokers used them instead of tobacco. Using both e-cigarettes and smoking is not recommended as it does not reduce the harm from smoking tobacco. Ultimately, however we want people not to smoke or vape.

Key point to remember about e-cigarettes:

Vaping is not harmless but is definitely less harmful that smoking tobacco. Ultimately, we want to manage people away from vaping as well

E-cigarettes can help you to give up smoking.

If you vape it’s important that you do not modify your devices or products or use illicit substances in devices.

In the UK there is no evidence of e-cigarettes acting as a gateway to smoking in children. Almost all children who are vaping are also smoking or have smoked.

E-cigarette vapour is not toxic to by-standards

Can I get e-cigarettes through the NHS?

No, as none of the e-cigarette products currently on the market in Britain have been licensed as medicines, they cannot be prescribed by the NHS. E-cigarettes are regulated as consumer products under the UK Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.

Products like Nicotine Replacement Therapy (e.g. patches, gum, lozenges etc) and Champix® are available from the NHS as they are licensed to help people stop smoking.

Although we cannot supply e-cigarettes, we understand that many smokers are using them to cut down or stop smoking altogether. We want to help those who are using e-cigs to stop smoking the benefit from the additional support our services can offer.

Local Quit Your Way Community Services* offer support to anyone using an e-cigarette across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Give them a call to find out more about support available in your area. Click here to find your local service.

*Note: This does not include our Quit Your Way Pharmacy Service.

Safety Advice

• Store nicotine solution away from children and pets, as you would with any medicine
• It is safe to use an e-cigarette with NRT. If you feel sick or dizzy, stop using the e-cigarette / use less frequently / move to an e-liquid with lower level of nicotine
• Ensure you thoroughly wash hands if handling e-liquids
• Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer carefully
• Heed any warnings supplied with the product
• Ensure that e-cigarettes are not left charging for long periods of time
• Do not leave e-cigarettes plugged in overnight or whilst out of the house
• Look out for the CE mark that indicates chargers comply with European Safety Standards.

Use of e-cigarettes on NHS grounds

The use of e-cigarettes is now permitted on our grounds in a bid to further cut smoking rates.

E-cigarettes can now be used on grounds by patients, visitors and staff. However, they cannot be used at entrances or exits to hospitals and other health facilities.

The newly updated Smokefree Policy ensures a consistent position about the use of e-cigarettes on hospital grounds and the e-cigarette friendly approach of smoking cessation services.

While they can now be used on grounds, e-cigarettes still can’t be used in buildings. Use is allowed anywhere on the grounds; however, people are being asked not to use them outside entrances and exits.

The type of e-cigarette permitted will be specified for inpatients (eg prefilled only).

Guidance will soon be made available regarding safe charging of e-cigarettes (specific restrictions for charging will apply for Mental Health inpatients).

We hope that the new policy will help change the behaviour of a small hardcore of people who continue to smoke on hospital grounds and especially around hospital entrances.

It’s never too late to stop smoking. Even people who have smoked all their lives will improve their health by stopping smoking.  

Stopping smoking is a difficult thing to do. One of the main reasons is because of nicotine. Nicotine is the highly addictive drug in cigarettes and it is this addictive nature that makes it difficult to quit.  

The good news is we can help. Our free and friendly local Quit Your Way stop smoking services can hugely increase your chances of having a successful quit attempt and staying stopped for good. We have various support services available to help you stop smoking. Click on the links below for information on our different stop smoking services and how you can get support to quit smoking.