Talking All Things Smoking and Vaping This Stoptober

This Stoptober, I’ve been busy on the airwaves shining a light on smoking, vaping, and how we can best support people to quit for good. With youth vaping hitting worrying new levels, it’s more important than ever to have honest, practical conversations.

Kicking Off Stoptober with BBC Radio 5 Live

The week began bright and early with a slot on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, chatting with Rachel Burden. The focus was on the youth vaping epidemic: how it’s been allowed to mushroom out of control, and why it needs urgent action. 5 Live have been leading the way in raising awareness of this issue, and it was great to contribute to such an important conversation.

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Quitting Made Easier on BBC Local Radio

Later in the week, I joined Charlie Burley, sitting in for Arun Verma,  on the evening show on BBC Local Radio Shropshire and across the network. We talked about how to make quitting easier, why a smoke-free life is absolutely achievable, and how even the most hopelessly hooked can break free. Quitting can feel tough, but it is possible, and the rewards are lifelong.

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Talking to Kids About Vaping on BBC Radio Ulster

To round off the week, I spoke with Anne Marie Wallace on BBC Radio Ulster about how to talk to your kids about vaping before they get tempted to start. Spoiler alert: health warnings alone rarely cut through. With 1 in 4 11–15-year-olds having tried vaping, and nicotine based products deliberately marketed in fun, sweet flavours like candyfloss and gummy bear, it’s no surprise curiosity turns into addiction fast.

What really helps is open, calm conversations, not lectures. If a young person has already started vaping, the best thing we can do is support them to quit in ways that resonate with them.

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A Call to Action

Vaping among young people has become a public health challenge we can’t ignore. This Stoptober, let’s keep talking: to our kids, our friends, and our communities, and make sure that everyone who wants to quit knows it can be done.