3 days ago
HSE cannot support vaping and nicotine pouch addiction through quit smoking programmes
The HSE is not being given funding to tackle vaping or nicotine pouch addiction under current quit smoking programmes, it has emerged.
The current programmes can only support people quitting tobacco or people quitting a dual use of tobacco and nicotine products together.
However, the HSE has now warned services are seeing a rise in people trying to quit e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches who had never smoked tobacco.
HSE's tobacco free Ireland programme national lead Martina Blake said: 'The HSE has not been directed by the department of health to develop a stop vaping/nicotine pouch cessation service.
'The development of such a service requires dedicated additional resources in terms of staff and capital funding.'
It would need government funding to research the best tools to help people quit vapes, as well as more staff and a larger budget, she said.
The HSE has prepared a business case and estimates bid for consideration by the health minister on the service.
Staff working within stop smoking services have seen an increasing number of clients contact our stop smoking services looking for support to quit vaping/nicotine pouch use in conjunction with their tobacco use (dual use) and from clients who do not use tobacco and only use e-cigarettes and or pouches and wish to quit.
Ms Blake said, in response to a parliamentary query from Labour TD Conor Sheehan, that anyone vaping and smoking tobacco can use the stop smoking service.
Nicotine pouches do not contain tobacco. They are typically placed between the gum and upper lip so nicotine is absorbed through the gum.
Mr Sheehan warned: 'If you look at what happened in Britain since they banned single-use vapes, the consumption trends have moved towards nicotine pouches.
'That's beginning to happen here too.'
He described how a friend in Limerick was offered three nicotine pouches in a vape shop last week, as a free trial.
'There is a role for vaping in terms of smoking cessation but vaping is also a gateway to nicotine addiction, as are these pouches. The pouches are completely unregulated in Ireland and vaping is only lightly regulated,' he said.
He called for new legislation to be future-proofed and cover development of further new products.
I believe the minister of health needs to direct the HSE to develop a strategy for vaping and nicotine pouch cessation first of all, and this should come as a part of our overall health strategy.
'It also should be considered in light of the upcoming Budget2026.'
A spokesman said minister of State for public health Jennifer Murnane O'Connor is working on changes.
She will 'explore initiatives to support young people with an addiction to nicotine products and to increase awareness of the harms associated with these products,' he said.
New laws are with the Attorney General for drafting, including banning all disposable vapes and restricting flavours.
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