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News| Homeless people are receptive to e-cigarettes but face ‘barriers to use’

By Gordon Stribling 28th February 2019 2 Mins

Homeless people in the UK are receptive to e-cigarettes but face considerable barriers to use, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Centre for Addictive Behaviours Research at London South Bank University [LSBU] questioned 283 adults from four areas of the UK about their smoking habits and quit attempts.

High levels of nicotine dependence were observed and while most respondents had a strong desire to quit, most made fewer than five quit attempts, few lasting beyond 24 hours.

More than 80 percent of the respondents had either used e-cigarettes in the past or were willing to use them and over a third were willing to pay £20 or more for an e-cigarette.

However, respondents were more likely to attempt to quit cold turkey or with the aid of traditional nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

The researchers concluded:

“Community embedded and non-routine approaches to cessation may be promising avenues promoting engagement with the homeless community. Likely barriers to uptake include low affordability, preference for cigarettes and high numbers of smoking acquaintances.”

Around 77 percent of the UK’s homeless population smoke, compared to 17 percent of the general population, according to a 2014 Homeless Link Study.

Alongside the barriers reported in the LSBU study, homeless people face a lack of access to smoking cessation services, high incidence of mental illness, peer pressure, boredom and stress.

Photo: The Daily Drip

 

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Gordon Stribling
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