A significant review of e-cigarette safety indicates that switching from traditional cigarettes to vaping does not place users at risk of serious harm. Experts involved in the report are advocating for the use of e-cigarettes as a method for smoking cessation, suggesting that healthcare professionals can be reassured of their safety in this context.
The review, published in the Cochrane Library, analyzed 80 studies involving nearly 30,000 adult smokers and found that e-cigarettes are at least two-thirds more effective at helping people quit smoking than nicotine replacement therapies like gum and patches. Approximately 10% of smokers who used vapes successfully quit for at least six months, compared to five percent who received no support or only behavioral support.
Despite these findings, the review acknowledges that vaping is not without risks and that long-term impacts are still not fully understood. The authors noted that their study only followed participants for up to two years, potentially missing longer-term complications. They also emphasized that the study focused on regulated e-cigarettes, which may differ significantly from unregulated devices that could contain harmful substances and are sometimes used by adolescents.
These findings emerge shortly after a separate review linked vaping to various health issues in young people, including respiratory problems, depression, and panic disorders. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) highlighted a concerning picture regarding the long-term impact of vaping on children and young people.
In the United Kingdom, a nationwide ban on selling vapes and nicotine products to individuals under 18 is set to take effect on October 29. This legislation will prohibit the sale of all nicotine and vape products, including nicotine-free options and nicotine pouches, to those under 18. Furthermore, it will be illegal for adults to purchase or attempt to purchase these products for minors. In England, vaping in cars carrying individuals under 18 will also be banned as part of government efforts to mitigate the harms associated with smoking and vaping.
Around 5.4 million adults in the UK currently use e-cigarettes daily or occasionally, surpassing the 4.9 million who smoke, meaning one in ten adults now vape. The Department of Health and Social Care has stated that proposed measures are necessary due to growing evidence about the dangers of heated tobacco and vaping.
Research indicates that about half of all smokers will die from smoking-related diseases. However, many long-term smokers find quitting difficult. Vapes function by heating a liquid, often containing nicotine and flavorings, which is then inhaled as vapor. Regulated vapes are considered safer than traditional cigarettes because they do not expose users to the same levels of toxic chemicals found in smoke.
Contrasting some findings, another study published in Nature Medicine suggested that switching to vaping to quit smoking might not reduce the risk of lung cancer and could even be associated with a higher risk compared to quitting entirely. The authors of the latest Cochrane review stressed that while the best approach to quitting varies, combining vaping with behavioral support offers smokers the best chance of success. They concluded that while vaping is not risk-free, it is substantially less harmful than smoking, which remains a leading preventable cause of disease and death in the UK.