Vaping to be studied as way for homeless to kick smoking habit

An Ottawa doctor is leading a study to see if vaping can help homeless people in the city kick their addiction to smoking tobacco.

The nation's capital has one of the lowest smoking rates in Ontario. That is until you look at those who arehomeless, struggle to find housing or are addicted to drugs.

Almost all people who fall into these groups 96 per cent smoke tobacco, suggests research from the Ottawa Hospital.

"I see the end stages of lung cancer, lung disease," Dr. SmitaPakhale, a lung specialist, told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning on Tuesday.

"We spend so much money on tobacco-related diseases."

Her team at the hospital islaunchinga trial to test the benefits of e-cigarettes against traditional methods like nicotine patches or gum.

Participants will besplit into two groups, one with patches and gum containing nicotine and the other withe-cigarettes.

Pakhale's team hope to soon publish their findings in astudy, she said.

'They are genuine souls'

All the things we hear about the general population's struggle to quitsmoking is true of the homeless as well, Pakhalesaid.

It's just that more homeless people smoke, she said.

"People might think 'Oh, these homeless people want to smoke and drink.' That is not true," she said.

"[Homeless] people are very hardworking, they are genuine souls like you and I."

Hoping to challenge the stigma of homeless people being addicted to various substances, Pakhalesaid she also wants to promote lung health in general.