VApril 2025: Quit Smoking for Good with Vaping Awareness Month

If you're still smoking a cigarette or thinking about quitting, you're not alone — and there’s no better time to make a change than now. April marks VApril 2025, the UK’s...

If you're still smoking a cigarette or thinking about quitting, you're not alone — and there’s no better time to make a change than now. April marks VApril 2025, the UK’s official vaping awareness month. This national campaign is designed to help adult smokers quit cigarettes for good using safer alternatives like electronic cigarettes and other nicotine replacement products (NRT).

Led by public health experts and backed by robust scientific research, VApril isn’t just about promoting vaping — it’s about supporting people quit smoking with tools that really work. Whether you’ve tried quitting before or this is your first serious attempt, this April could be the turning point in your journey to better health.

Why Quit Smoking Now?

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease in the UK, contributing to serious health conditions such as lung disease, heart disease, stroke, and various cancers. According to the NHS, smoking-related illnesses cost the healthcare system billions each year.

Quitting smoking — even if you’ve been doing it for decades — can lead to remarkable health improvements. Within days of stopping, circulation and lung function begin to improve. After a year, the risk of heart disease is halved. Over time, the risk of developing lung disease and other serious illnesses continues to decrease.

More importantly, quitting also protects others from secondhand smoke, which poses a significant risk to children, pregnant women, and non-smokers.

Vaping vs Smoking: The Facts That Matter

Still unsure about making the switch to vaping? Consider the following evidence:

Vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking, according to the UK Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).
Electronic cigarettes are currently the most effective aid available in the UK for helping people quit smoking — outperforming traditional methods such as the nicotine patch, gum, or lozenges.
Each year, over 50,000 smokers quit successfully with the help of vaping.
More than 1.6 million people in the UK have completely switched from cigarettes to electronic cigarettes.
Flavoured vapes have been shown to reduce relapse and increase long-term success in quitting.

These findings are supported by research from Public Health England, Cancer Research UK, and the VApril campaign.

How to Quit Smoking with Vaping: A Step-by-Step Guide

VApril isn’t just about raising awareness — it’s about taking action. Here’s how you can make the switch from smoking to vaping and start your journey to a smoke-free life.

1. Understand Your Smoking Habits

Identify when and why you smoke. Is it stress, habit, social occasions, or boredom? Recognising these triggers will help you select the right quitting strategy and manage cravings more effectively.

2. Choose the Right Vape Device

Selecting the right device can make a huge difference. Many adult smokers begin with refillable pod systems or simple starter kits. These offer:

Ease of use
Greater control over nicotine strength
A wide variety of flavours
Better long-term value
A lower environmental impact

Devices that mimic the feel and hand-to-mouth action of smoking a cigarette can make the transition smoother.

3. Select the Right Nicotine Strength

Nicotine strength is key to avoiding withdrawal. If you were a heavy smoker, a higher strength e-liquid (e.g. 18mg/mL or 20mg/mL) might be best to start with. You can then reduce the strength gradually.

While nicotine patches and other NRT options release nicotine slowly over time, vaping allows for more immediate relief of cravings, giving users more flexibility.

4. Explore Flavours That Suit You

One of vaping’s biggest advantages is the wide range of flavoured e-liquids. Whether you prefer fruit, dessert, mint, or tobacco flavours, finding one you enjoy can make quitting far more pleasant — and reduce your likelihood of returning to cigarettes.

5. Get Support from Trusted Resources

Quit smoking support increases your chances of success. Visit vapril.org for:

Personalised quit plans
Product advice tailored to your smoking habits
Step-by-step video guides
Community forums and expert support
Tools to track your progress

You can also speak to local stop smoking services, which offer free support, quit coaching, and may even provide free or discounted nicotine replacement products.

Why Vaping is a Safer Choice

Switching to vaping isn’t about trading one harmful habit for another — it’s about harm reduction. Here’s what sets vaping apart from smoking:

No combustion (burning)
No tar
Far fewer toxic chemicals
Lower risk of diseases such as lung disease
Improved breathing and energy within weeks
A better sense of taste and smell
No lingering smoke odour or harmful secondhand smoke

According to Public Health England and OHID, vaping remains one of the most powerful tools for helping people quit smoking, particularly when combined with behavioural support.

Where to Find Help: Your Quit Smoking Toolkit

The VApril campaign is your one-stop shop for evidence-based support. You’ll find:

A guide to different vape devices
Information on choosing the correct nicotine strength
Free expert-written quit plans
Real stories from successful quitters
Links to local stop smoking services

All content is backed by health professionals and aims to take the guesswork out of quitting.

Make April the Month You Quit for Good

You don’t have to wait for New Year’s resolutions or a health scare. This April, commit to breaking free from cigarettes and reclaim your health. Whether you’ve tried before or are just starting out, VApril 2025 offers the tools and support to help you succeed.

The science is clear. The support is available. Thousands are already on the path — and you can be too.

Take the first step. Visit vapril.org today.