Nicotine vapes most effective for quitting smoking: Study

Global review finds nicotine vapes most effective for quitting smoking, but health risks remain

A new global review covering 2014 to 2023 has found that the most effective method for quitting smoking is using nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes (vapes).

Evidence suggests that nicotine-rich vapes outperform other nicotine replacement methods - such as patches, gums, lozenges, and behavioral support - as well as nicotine-free e-cigarettes, in helping smokers successfully quit.

However, experts caution that replacing one nicotine product with another does not necessarily solve the underlying health risks. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), switching to nicotine vapes is not automatically safer.

While electronic cigarettes - commonly called e-cigarettes, e-cigs, or vapes - contain far fewer harmful chemicals than the roughly 7,000 toxic substances found in traditional cigarette smoke, they are not considered completely safe. Medical experts agree that conventional smoking remains a major cause of cancer, metabolic disorders, cognitive decline, and other serious health issues.

Scientists continue to study the long-term effects of e-cigarettes on human health, highlighting that their safety over extended use remains uncertain.