Nicotine Vapes Shown More Effective Than Patches or Gum for Quitting Smoking, New Review Finds
An updated Cochrane review of 80 randomized trials (29,861 participants) finds nicotine-containing e-cigarettes more effective for six‑month smoking cessation than nicotine-replacement therapies (like patches or gum) and often outperform counselling. About 8–10% quit with nicotine vapes versus ~6% with NRT, with roughly 2 extra quitters per 100 compared with non-nicotine devices and about 5 per 100 more than counselling. Harms appear not greater, but long‑term outcomes are uncertain since most studies follow participants for six months and newer devices may be more effective. The review did not assess health benefits of switching or outcomes after quitting vaping. Policy notes: Australia restricts nicotine vapes to quitting schemes; New Zealand is more permissive in encouraging vaping to reduce smoking. Overall, vaping may be a valuable quit aid for those who fail other therapies.
