A major review of clinical trial data found that nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective at helping smokers quit than traditional nicotine replacement therapies such as patches and gum. The analysis included 80 clinical trials involving nearly 30,000 people, making it one of the larger assessments of quit-smoking methods to date.
The review compared several common approaches and found that regulated vaping products stood out as the most effective among them. The researchers caution that these products are not risk-free, but they suggest that vaping could serve as a significantly less harmful alternative for smokers who are trying to stop.
The findings add to the ongoing debate about the role of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation. While the evidence points to their effectiveness, the review's emphasis on regulated products and its warning that no option is risk-free highlight the need for careful policy and clinical guidance.