Nicotine vapes best chance to quit smoking, major review finds
They work better than patches, gum or pills, the most up-to-date evidence suggests.
Nicotine e-cigarettes provide the greatest chance of quitting smoking, according to a major review. The Cochrane team examined 80 trials with nearly 30,000 participants and discovered that nicotine vapes were more effective than traditional aids like patches, gum, and support plans. The success rate increased by roughly 60%, from about six out of every 100 people quitting smoking to one in every 10.
Nicotine vapes also outperformed non-nicotine vapes, although researchers suggest switching to them later may help with weaning off nicotine. They could potentially prove more effective than the new anti-smoking pill cytisine, which the NHS has started to roll out, though more research is needed.
Experts emphasize that vaping, while not entirely risk-free, is significantly safer than smoking. In the UK, over 16s now use vapes or e-cigarettes more than traditional cigarettes, with around 5.3 million adults smoking and 5.4 million using vapes daily or occasionally. The review, based on the most recent and high-quality evidence, applies to regulated vapes that meet quality and safety standards. It does not cover unregulated ones that may contain illicit substances like spice or THC.
Dr. Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, a report author, cautioned that unlicensed e-cigarettes pose potential dangers, including unstable batteries and harmful chemicals. Individuals seeking to quit smoking with e-cigarettes should only use approved devices from their country's regulatory body. The review found no evidence of increased serious harm from using e-cigarettes to quit, but the long-term risks of vaping remain unclear. The NHS advises children and non-smokers to avoid vaping.
Long-term smoking leads to serious illnesses like heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke, killing over seven million people annually, according to the World Health Organization. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of these diseases. Most local NHS stop smoking services provide vapes or other support to help people quit. You can find your local service using your postcode online.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
