Nicotine Vapes Offer Best Chance to Quit Smoking, Major Review Finds
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Nicotine vapes best chance to quit smoking, major review finds
Image source: Getty Images
By Michelle Roberts
Digital health editor
Published 8 hours ago
Smokers who want to quit have the best chance of doing so if they use nicotine e-cigarettes, a review has concluded.
A Cochrane team reviewed 80 major trials involving nearly 30,000 people and found that nicotine vapes were more effective than traditional aids such as patches, gum, and support plans—increasing the success rate by approximately 60%, from around six in every 100 managing to quit smoking to one in every 10.
They also outperformed non-nicotine vapes, although researchers suggest switching to these afterwards might aid nicotine weaning. They could prove more effective than the new anti-smoking pill cytisine, which the NHS has started to roll out—though further research is needed.
Long-Term Risks Unclear
While vaping is not entirely risk-free, experts say it is far safer than smoking. In the UK, there are now more over-16s using vapes or e-cigarettes daily or occasionally than those who smoke cigarettes—with figures showing around 5.3 million people or 10% of adults smoking, while approximately 5.4 million use vapes.
The review, which considers the most recent and highest-quality evidence to date, applies only to regulated vapes that are checked for quality and comply with strict safety laws. It does not look at unregulated devices that may contain illicit substances like spice or THC.
Dr Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, one of the report authors, cautioned:
"Unlicensed e-cigarettes are potentially dangerous, with issues including unstable batteries and harmful chemicals. Anyone looking to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking should only purchase devices that have been tested and approved by their country’s regulatory body."
The review found no evidence of any increased risk of serious harm from using e-cigarettes for quitting smoking. However, the long-term risks are not yet clear. The NHS advises children and non-smokers never to vape, as it could lead to health harms in children and should be made less attractive to them.
According to the World Health Organization, smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death, claiming over seven million lives annually. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke. Almost every local NHS stop-smoking service provides vapes or other support to help people quit. You can search online for your local service with your postcode.
