Nicotine vapes more effective for quitting smoking than patches or gum
A new analysis of 80 trials finds nicotine vapes help more smokers quit than patches or gum, with 10 in 100 quitting versus 6 in 100.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Nicotine vapes are more effective at helping people quit smoking than nicotine patches or gum, according to a new analysis of the latest trials and research.
The review, which covered 80 trials with nearly 30,000 participants, found that 10 in 100 smokers who used nicotine e-cigarettes had stopped smoking for at least six months, compared with 6 in 100 who used nicotine replacement therapies such as patches and gum. The authors said there was no evidence of increased serious harm from using vapes to quit, but they added that longer-term research is still needed.
The analysis focused on licensed vapes. Its authors stressed that vaping is not risk-free and that unregulated vapes can be hazardous. They also noted that the health harms from tobacco smoking are considerably worse than from vaping, and that adult smokers wanting to give up can be advised to switch to nicotine-based e-cigarettes.
One researcher warned against seeing vapes as simply good or bad: “It’s so tempting to be like, vapes are good or vapes are bad, but obviously that’s not the case. For some people, some vapes might be good, and those are adults who smoke who are using them to quit smoking. For other people, they’re only going to present risk.”
The report comes a week after a separate review, by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, warned that vaping among children and young people is linked to breathing problems, poor sleep, mental health issues and other harms. It also found evidence of harm in babies whose mothers used vapes while pregnant. It is illegal to sell vapes to under-18s.
The authors of the new review say their findings underline that vapes can be a very effective quit aid for adult smokers, while making clear that children should never vape and that more research is needed on newer e-cigarettes.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One |
|---|---|---|---|
| A review reported higher quit rates among smokers using vapes (10 in 100) than those using nicotine replacement therapies (6 in 100). | |||
| A review found no evidence of increased serious harm from using vapes to quit smoking. | · | ||
| Report authors recommended the government go further by limiting available vape flavours. | · | ||
| The authors of the report said unregulated vapes can be hazardous. | · | ||
| The government has banned single-use vapes and will ban advertising and sponsorship from next year. | · | ||
| Vaping is associated with adverse effects during pregnancy, including abnormal reflexes and low weight gain in babies. | · | ||
| Vaping is associated with breathing problems, poor sleep, and mental health issues in young people. | · | ||
| It is illegal to sell vapes to people under 18. | · | · | |
| The review analysed 80 trials involving nearly 30,000 participants. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News gives the fullest coverage, pairing the new analysis with the separate warning about children's vaping risks. It emphasises the balance: vapes can help adults quit, but they are not harm-free and need stronger regulation. The report also includes a researcher's comment on the complexity of the issue.
- “The review concluded that 6 in 100 smokers gave up after using nicotine replacement therapies such as gums and patches. But of those who vaped, 10 in 100 quit the tobacco habit.”
- “It's so tempting to be like, vapes are good or vapes are bad, but obviously that's not the case.”
- “Vaping can help smokers give up for at least six months and is more effective than more traditional methods.”
BBC ONE West covers the same story with the same report, including the statistical comparison and the caveats. It also includes a quote from an expert about the need to buy vapes from reputable sources due to the risk of illegal additives. The channel runs the story alongside local news and the background of the Prime Minister's waste plans.
- “It looked at 80 trials, with a total of nearly 30,000 participants. There were no replacement therapies such as gums and patches, but of those who vaped, 10 in 100 quit the tobacco habit.”
- “Largely speaking, vapes are generally associated with cigarettes. And that's important. It's an option to quit. But increasingly, and there are lots of anecdotes and research that suggests that there are other products or other things that could be in vapes that people are deliberately putting, like cannabis and THC and other harmful products.”
5 News gives a brief, straightforward summary of the analysis, highlighting the 61 per cent improvement in quitting odds for vapers. It also notes the vapes are 'not risk-free' but quickly moves on to other stories, treating it as a short news item.
- “Just not risk-free, vapes are a proven option for quitting smoking, experts say, after the largest review of e-cigarettes. Smokers were 61 per cent more likely to quit using vapes than nicotine, gum or patches.”
Broadcast Timeline
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