Vaping is twice as effective as NRT

Clarke, E. et al., Snus: a compelling harm reduction alternative to cigarettes, Harm Reduction Journal 16, 62 (2019)

A study of 886 adult smokers in the UK found that smokers are twice more likely to successfully quit if they are given a vaping starter kit rather than nicotine replacement therapies (NRT)to quit.
Half of the smokers in the study were given a three-month supply of NRT of their choice (e.g. gums, sprays, patches) and half were given a vaping starter kit that contained one bottle of 18mg strength e-liquid.
Key findings:
- 18% of participants in the vaping group reported being ex-smokers after one year, compared to 9.9% in the NRT group.
- Vapers were less likely to have a cough than the NRT users and also felt less nauseous. There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to wheezing or shortness of breath.
- Vapers were more likely to continue using the product compared to NRT users. One in five people in the e-cigarette group still used the product after one year compared to one in ten for NRT.
The study was funded by the UK Government’s National Institute for Health Research and Cancer Research UK.