CDC study confirms that most smokers turn to vaping to quit

The aim of the 26-month study of 15,943 adult cigarette smokers which was published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease last Thursday, was to determine the most effective method to quit smoking among ten methods.

“Giving up cigarettes all at once (65.3 percent) and reducing the number of cigarettes smoked (62 percent) were the most prevalent methods,” said the report. The study also found that 74.7 percent of the participants used more than one method in their attempt to curb their habit. But what about cessation aides?

The compiled data found “substituting some cigarettes with e-cigarettes (35.3%), using a nicotine patch or gum (25.4%), switching completely from cigarettes to e-cigarettes (24.7%)”. Showing that vaping products, despite being notoriously condemned by the FDA, are more widely used by smokers wishing to quit than any cessation aid approved by the agency.

Why are e-cigarettes the preferred choice?

This comes as no surprise to the several health experts who have been commending the products. The devices are considered effective cessation tools due to the fact that the action of vaping mimics that of smoking, hence making the transition from smoking to not smoking a smoother one for addicts.

“Given that our data show that e-cigarettes are more commonly used for quit attempts than FDA-approved medications, further research is warranted on the safety and effectiveness of using e-cigarettes to quit smoking,” said the CDC. “There is no conclusive scientific evidence that e-cigarettes are effective for long-term cessation of cigarette smoking. E-cigarettes are not approved by the FDA as a smoking cessation aid.”

However many experts in the field would disagree. There are many studies which found that not only are the products significantly safer than their combustible counterparts, but that in countries where they have been endorsed for smoking cessation, such as the UK, the number of smokers has reached a record low.

President of the American Vaping Association, Gregory Conley said, “A prior CDC study showed that among smokers who had successfully quit in the prior year, nearly one-fourth were current users of e-cigarettes, a finding that cuts against the outdated claim that there is no evidence that vapor products help smokers get off combustible tobacco products.”

CDC forced to acknowledge the popularity of vaping

Professor of medicine at the University of Louisville and renowned anti-smoking advocate, Brad Rodu said, “The CDC has finally acknowledged the popularity of vaping. This study documents that vaping is American smokers’ most popular quit-smoking aid, despite a broad misinformation campaign labeling e-cigarettes as neither safe nor effective.”

Rodu added that this survey finally sets things straight, “far fewer smokers use FDA-approved aids, which have been promoted by federal health authorities for many years. Smokers know that, while safe, they are decidedly ineffective.”