Quitting smoking: Are e-cigarettes more helpful than nicotine substitutes?

Quitting smoking: E-cigarettes seem to help

Four out of five smokers fail when trying to quit. Various methods can improve the chances of success. E-cigarettes appear to be more effective than nicotine replacement therapies in reducing or quitting smoking over the long term. This is the conclusion reached by an English research team as part of a clinical study.

In the first study of its kind, researchers from Queen Mary University of London compared the success of individual approaches designed to help smokers quit. Special attention was paid to the comparison between e-cigarettes and nicotine replacement products. As it turned out, e-cigarettes performed significantly better in comparison. The research results were recently presented in the journal Addiction.

E-cigarettes better than nicotine replacement for quitting?

E-cigarettes for smoking cessation are currently more of a controversial means, because on the one hand the nicotine they contain serves the addiction, on the other hand possible long-term damage from inhaling the vapors cannot yet be assessed. Nevertheless, according to the current study, e-cigarettes seem to help smokers quit better than conventional nicotine replacement products.

Many smokers don't make the jump

Most smokers are unable to simply put down their cigarettes and never touch them again. Many addicts benefit from approaches that slowly taper off nicotine use. Common nicotine replacement therapies include nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nicotine nasal or oral spray, and inhalers. But even with aids, the chances of success are modest if no additional behavioral support is offered.

Controlled weaning attempt

The researchers followed 135 smoking participants who had already failed in at least one attempt to quit smoking as they tried to quit again. The test subjects were randomly assigned an eight-week supply of nicotine replacement products or an e-cigarette with liquids in the strength and flavor of their choice. In addition, attempts to quit were accompanied by minimal behavioral support.

Six months later

The analysis of the accompanied cessation attempt shows a significant difference in the reduction in smoking - including complete smoking cessation - in the e-cigarette group compared to the group that used nicotine replacement products. After six months, 27 percent of the participants in the e-cigarette group had reduced their cigarette smoking by at least half. In the nicotine replacement therapy group, only six percent of the participants had achieved comparable success.

Who managed to stop smoking?

Nineteen percent of participants in the e-cigarette group had quit smoking altogether, as confirmed by breath carbon monoxide measurements. In the group that used nicotine replacement products, only three percent of the participants managed to quit smoking.

The results suggest that e-cigarettes are a more effective approach to quitting for addicted smokers than prescribing nicotine replacement therapies. The approach is also cheaper.

Should e-cigarettes be recommended for smoking cessation?

"These findings have important clinical implications for smokers who have not previously been able to quit with conventional treatments," said lead researcher Dr. Katie Myers Smith of Queen Mary's Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine. She suggests recommending e-cigarettes for quitting, especially for smokers who have failed other methods of quitting.

"Research to date shows that vaping is far less harmful than smoking," adds Michelle Mitchell of Cancer Research UK. But e-cigarettes are not risk-free either. In particular, the long-term effects are not yet known. "People who have never smoked shouldn't use them," Mitchell clarifies. For more tips on quitting smoking, see the Quitting Smoking article. (vb)

Author and source information

This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.

Important note: This article contains general information only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.

Read news now