New Zealand launches e-cigarette smoking cessation program: free e-cigarette kits available from next week

New Zealand launches e-cigarette smoking cessation program: free e-cigarette kits available from next week

The New Zealand government plans to provide free e-cigarette starter kits and ongoing cessation service support to help adults quit smoking and achieve the 2025 smoke-free goal from next week.

According to ODT on December 31, the New Zealand government plans to provide e-cigarette starter kits to national smoking cessation services from next week to help adults quit smoking.

Casey Costello, deputy minister of New Zealand's Ministry of Health, said that service recipients will receive an e-cigarette device and a month's supply of e-cigarette cartridges every month for three months, and receive ongoing cessation service support. She pointed out that these kits will be provided free of charge to smoking adults.

Costello said that if New Zealand is to reduce the smoking rate to below 5% by the end of next year and achieve the 2025 smoke-free goal, then New Zealand needs to revitalize smoking cessation efforts and target the right people.

"E-cigarettes have played a key role in reducing smoking rates, and the government supports adults to switch to e-cigarettes because e-cigarettes are much less harmful than smoking."

"Smokers who use cessation services are four times more likely to successfully quit smoking than those without support."