The compiled data indicated that vaping surpassed other cessation treatments in 8 of 11 meta-analyses, with no studies finding that it was less effective than alternative ones. In some cases, mixed results were found when comparing vapes to NRTs, however trends generally favoured the former.
Higher quitting rates via vaping than with any other cessation tools or methods
In fact, traditional smoking cessation methods, as incorporated in public health guidelines, have shown limited success at the population level. For example, US quit rates via these methods average only at 7.5% in 12 months. Even the most intensive interventions, combining behavioral and pharmacological treatments, achieved a 15.2% six-month quit rate, which then dropped to 8.6% without pharmacological support. Against this backdrop, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) show promise as a potentially more effective solution, with long-term success rates for at 10%-12%.
To this effect, the review led by CoEHAR’s In Silico Research team, concluded that e-cigarettes outperform conventional smoking cessation methods, while acknowledging some limitations, such as a lack of long-term data on relapse rates. Co-author and CoEHAR founder, Prof. Riccardo Polosa, emphasized the importance of integrating harm reduction strategies into public health frameworks. “This study provides robust evidence supporting the potential of ENDS as an effective cessation aid, but it also calls for enhanced clinical guidelines and further exploration of long-term outcomes.”
Using vapes in conjunction with stop-smoking services maximizes one’s chances
In the UK, vaping has emerged as the most effective tool for smoking cessation, with over half of vapers quitting smoking. NHS data show that combining vapes with Stop Smoking Services leads to a nearly two-thirds success rate. However, strict new vaping regulations, including bans on disposable vapes and flavours, may hinder progress toward the UK’s 2030 smoke-free target.
Another new study, published in BMC Medicine and funded by Cancer Research, revealed that ex-smokers increasingly turn to vaping to avoid relapsing into smoking. Conducted by researchers at the University College London (UCL), the study analyzed data from 54,251 adults in England between October 2013 and May 2024, highlighting the growing role of vaping in smoking cessation.The findings revealed that while in 2013, only 2% of ex-smokers who quit over the previous reported vaping, by 2024, this surged to 20%, representing 2.2 million individuals. The rise coincides with the growing popularity of disposable vapes from 2021.
The use of vapes during quit attempts rose from 27% in 2013, to 41% in 2024. Younger ex-smokers (18-24 years) led this trend, at 59% vaping in 2024 in comparison to just 11% of those aged 65+. Among heavy drinkers who quit smoking, 35% reported vaping in 2024, reflecting another notable increase. While a modest rise was noted among those who quit smoking before 2011, with vaping prevalence climbing from 0.4% in 2013, to 3.7% in 2024 (212,000 people).
The important role of flavours
The participants, mostly women (74.5%) with an average age of 40, smoked at least five cigarettes daily and had no plans to quit. They were divided into four groups:
- Control group with normal nicotine content (NNC) cigarettes.
- Group using VLNC cigarettes.
- VLNC cigarettes plus tobacco-flavoured vapes.
- VLNC cigarettes plus fruity or sweet-flavored e-cigarettes like mango or cucumber.
The results of the study suggested that participants using VLNC cigarettes with flavoured vapes smoked far fewer cigarettes than those using NNC cigarettes, with an average reduction of 14.91 cigarettes per day. While those using flavoured vapes also smoked fewer cigarettes than those using just VLNC cigarettes or VLNC with tobacco-flavoured vapes, with the most popular vape flavours being mango, fruit medley, and menthol.
