Marty’s story

“Vaping helped to transform my life and my confidence” – Marty from Middlesbrough

Quitting smoking isn’t easy – especially when you’re trying to do it alone. But for Marty from Middlesbrough, becoming a dad was the moment everything changed.

Now 10 years smokefree, Marty reflects on how switching to a vape helped him quit for good, and why he believes vaping – can be a game changer for people trying to quit smoking, or who have tried before.

“I quit smoking when my wife was pregnant with our first child back in 2015,” says Marty. “That was ten years ago and if I’m my really honest, I was really keen to quit because of the smell – in my clothes, my hair, and on my breath.

“I’d wake up coughing every morning and I didn’t want that to be my life anymore.”

Like many people, Marty tried to quit cold turkey – but he found himself slipping back into old patterns. “I was always looking for an excuse to start again. That’s the addiction. I personally wanted to do it on my own, but the vape helped me massively.”

Marty says switching to vaping not only helped him stay off the cigarettes, but gave him back control – and his confidence.

“I started playing five-a-side again. My chest didn’t feel as tight during the games. I wasn’t wheezing after running around. I didn’t smell like an ashtray anymore. It’s the little things – like your hair not smelling or not waking up coughing – that really made me realise the difference it made to my health. It was all the little things that changed me.”

Now a decade on, Marty has also quit vaping altogether – but says he wouldn’t have been able to stop smoking without it.

“Vaping gave me the crutch I needed. It’s a way to keep the hand-to-mouth habit at first, but without all the harmful chemicals. I felt tonnes better vaping than I did smoking.”

Marty says there are still a lot of myths and misunderstandings about vaping.

“People need to know – if you don’t smoke, don’t vape. But if you are smoking, vaping is one of the best ways to quit. I think there’s a danger that people lump smoking and vaping together.

“From my experience, they couldn’t be more different in terms of how they affected my health. Yes, vaping helped me quit but it’s not the same as smoking.”

Marty started out using disposable vapes, which helped him take those crucial first steps away from cigarettes. But he’s also aware of the growing concerns around waste and the environment.

“They were easy to use and helped me get started. But I’d encourage people to switch to a reusable. They’re just as good – there’s loads of different types to try and you’ll save money and cut down on waste. It’s worth asking for help to find the right one for you.

“When I heard quitting could improve sleep, boost your mood and save you money – those were things I could relate to. We need to be clear and honest: quitting smoking is hard. But it can change your life.”

Now a dad, Marty strongly supports plans in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to create a smokefree generation and to regulate vaping responsibly.

“No parent wants to see their child grow up and start smoking. I’m glad my kids won’t be able to buy cigarettes in the future. Quitting also means I don’t have to explain why I smoked – they won’t ever see me do it. It’s about protecting the next generation.

“As someone who was hooked on a tobacco addiction it is also important that we don’t ever want people to go back to cigarettes. Vaping is still the most popular way to quit smoking and it is important we don’t make it harder for people to vape.

“I’d advise anyone who smokes to switch to a reusable vape. There’s loads of options that are really easy once you’ve made that change. Speak to your local stop smoking service – they’ll help you find something that works for you.”

Ten years on, Marty reflects on how far he’s come.

“I was smoking up to 20 cigarettes a day. It affected how much I could play football and how I felt in myself. Quitting smoking helped me find that confidence again. I used to feel judged when I went out for a cigarette. Now, I feel free of all that. It’s been a massive change in my life.”