According to a recent report by the BBC, the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK will begin offering an "improved" stop smoking pill to tens of thousands of people in England who are looking to quit smoking.
The NHS has stated that Varenicline is as effective as e-cigarettes and more effective than nicotine replacement gum or patches.
This medication can suppress nicotine addiction and was previously marketed under the brand name Champix on the NHS several years ago. However, it was withdrawn due to some impurity issues. The new version has now been approved as safe.
Officials stated that e-cigarettes are sometimes provided, typically by local NHS stop smoking services, with an initial e-cigarette starter kit provided for approximately two weeks.
Varenicline is a prescription medication, which means people cannot purchase it over the counter at a pharmacy or supermarket and instead need to see their general practitioner (GP) or NHS stop smoking service to obtain it. It works by reducing cravings for nicotine and blocking its effects on the brain, while also helping to alleviate withdrawal symptoms such as irritability or difficulty sleeping.
The NHS states that it has been proven to help approximately one quarter of people quit smoking for at least six months when used in conjunction with behavioral support, such as counseling. The study suggests that this could help over 85,000 people quit smoking each year and potentially prevent around 9,500 smoking-related deaths in the next five years.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: "The rollout of this pill can save the NHS millions of pounds, save appointments to help other patients be seen faster and save lives."
NHS CEO Amanda Pritchard announced at the annual NHS Providers conference that this drug could be a "game-changer" for those looking to quit smoking.
Due to e-cigarettes not being licensed as medication, general practitioners are unable to prescribe e-cigarettes for individuals attempting to quit smoking unless approved by the local NHS. However, some local governments do indeed provide e-cigarettes for smokers wanting to quit.
The guidelines suggest that people first try to obtain licensed smoking cessation medications, even though e-cigarettes are recognized as a smoking cessation aid. The harms of e-cigarettes are far less than smoking.
However, health experts unanimously agree that people should not start using e-cigarettes unless it is for smoking cessation.
Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said access to services was variable.
"Wherever a smoker lives, they should be able to access the most effective forms of treatment to help them stop," she said.
"Improving access to varenicline will be a positive step forward to help prevent the tens of thousands of deaths caused by smoking. However, a drug alone will not transform smoking rates. Services are needed to support smokers and prescribe these products."
"The NHS has done a good job in setting up in-hospital support to help people quit smoking, which complements the services provided in the community, said Hazel Cheeseman. "But gaps remain around the country, with services often in peril as local NHS organizations try to balance the books."
