Clinical Update

• Combination NRT more effective than single products – aim to use for 8 weeks

• Varenicline (Champix) supply still on hold

• Vaping – increasing evidence to support daily vaping with a nicotine product as a part of a quit attempt – is a focus of ongoing Cochrane reviews

• Vaping is safer than tobacco but long term safety concerns remain. Ideally aim to stop vaping as well or only use very occasionally

• Young people – minimal research in this group - still aim for step wise reduction in nicotine exposure

• Pregnancy - NRT (short acting) remains safest option

Consideration for specific Groups

• Māori – current smoking cessation programmes and approaches have been shown to be just as effective and acceptable to Māori - challenge is getting the information out to the target groups

• Patients with Severe Mental Health diagnosis – often underestimate their nicotine intake. Require medication adjustment as they reduce nicotine intake e.g. Olanzapine

Key Resources

• MOH ABC Smoking Cessation training available online for staff needing a refresher: https://nts.org.nz/abc-e-learning

• New Zealand Guidelines for Helping People to Stop Smoking 2021 Update (health.govt.nz)

• Guide to Prescribing Nicotine Replacement Therapy

• The ABC Pathway - Key messages

• October 2022 Smoking Cessation

• Hâpainga Programme information

• Heru Hapū Māmā Programme information