What are e-cigarettes
What are e-cigarettes?
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are handheld devices that work by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine and flavourings, creating a vapour that is then inhaled. Because they do not burn tobacco, e-cigarettes do not expose users to the same levels of chemicals that can cause diseases in people who smoke conventional cigarettes.6
Using an e-cigarette is commonly known as vaping. Many people use e-cigarettes to help them to stop smoking tobacco.6 In this training we focus on e-cigarettes containing nicotine.
E-cigarette use in the UK
The number of people using e-cigarettes in the UK has grown from around 700,000 in 2012 to 4.3 million in 2022.7 It is mainly current and ex-smokers who use e-cigarettes.7 The proportion of current e-cigarette users who are never smokers remains low at around 350,000.7
