E-cigarettes are almost twice as effective as other nicotine replacement therapies to help smokers quit

Many smokers have been successful in quitting by using e-cigarettes, but doctors can not recommend this without good evidence from clinical trials. They now have this proof. Our latest study confirms that e-cigarettes are an effective way to help smokers quit.

In the essay, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, nearly 900 smokers who were looking to quit smoking were randomly badigned to one of two groups. One group received a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) – mainly a combination of nicotine patches and a shorter acting drug, such as nicotine chewing gum, inhaler or mouth spray . The other group received a rechargeable e-cigarette, with one or two bottles of e-liquid, and learned to use the device. They were then encouraged to buy more supplies of their choice, with nicotine levels and flavors they liked. Both groups also received weekly in-person support for at least the first four weeks of the study.

When heavy smokers try to quit, they often feel miserable for a while, struggling with cravings, irritability and a low mood. The group using electronic cigarettes presented less of these symptoms than the group using TNS. They also found e-cigarettes more useful and satisfying, although they did not find e-cigarettes or NRTs as satisfying as cigarettes.

Vapers maintained its early advantage during the study. By the end of the year, almost twice as many people in the electronic cigarette group had been abstinent throughout the year compared to the NRT group (18% versus 10%).

Strong difference

At the beginning of the study, both groups used their treatments almost daily. Over time, a big difference has emerged. Some 40% of the smokers in the e-cigarette group were still dulling after one year, while only 4% of the TRN group still used their nicotine replacement product. Among those who do not smoke at one year, the proportion of people using e-cigarettes was 80% and NRTs were 9%.

Among smokers who did not manage to quit smoking, some of the two study groups reduced their smokers' consumption by at least 50%, but they were significantly more likely in the group of electronic cigarettes (13%). 7%).

Continuous vaping of long-term abstainers, however, could be considered a bad thing if the use of electronic cigarettes for one year leads to vaping for several more years and if it causes health problems. Although the long-term health risks of vaping are estimated to be less than 5% of the risks of smoking (no health risk resulting from vaping has been demonstrated in a baseline study to evaluate the use of electronic cigarette for more than two years). could still present an avoidable risk.

But the fact that many of the heavy smokers in our study who quit smoking continued to smoke could be considered a good thing. Dependent smokers who quit smoking with TNS and continue to use these long-term products are known to reduce their risk of relapse, so prolonged use of electronic cigarettes could also reduce the risk of relapse. In addition, the current vaping program protected these heavy smokers from the usual side effects of stopping smoking, such as feeling irritable and gaining weight. And one problem that is rarely discussed is that some smokers like to smoke, and vaping can help them keep that pleasure.

Of course, these ex-smokers continue to use nicotine through vaping, but this does not have the major negative effects that cigarettes have on health. The health risks badociated with smoking come mainly from the combustion chemicals released by tobacco combustion. People who use nicotine without burning, such as Swedish snus users and short-term or long-term users of nicotine replacement products, do not appear to suffer adverse health effects, while the Tobacco causes premature death in about half of middle-aged smokers.

We continue to follow trial participants and we will eventually have data on how long-term vapers continue to work, as well as their effects on their health and recidivism. In the meantime, doctors can tell smokers that it is well established that vaping can help them quit.