LIFESTYLE | Smoke-free alternatives may help smokers quit, report says
According to a report, vaping is about twice as effective in helping people stop smoking compared to traditional nicotine replacement therapies.
E-cigarettes on display at a Tech Expo exhibition in Abu Dhabi. Source: TechSabado.com
A report by the World Vapers Alliance (WVA) suggests that smoke-free products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches could be effective tools for helping smokers quit.
According to the group, vaping is about twice as effective in helping people stop smoking compared to traditional nicotine replacement therapies. The report cites scientific findings that attribute the main harm from smoking to the combustion of tobacco, which produces thousands of toxic chemicals. Because e-cigarettes and similar products do not involve combustion, they may expose users to fewer harmful substances.
Public Health England has previously stated that e-cigarettes are at least 95 percent less harmful than combustible cigarettes—a figure frequently cited in discussions about harm reduction. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service has even begun pilot programs providing e-cigarettes to smokers as a potential cessation aid.
The report, titled “Rethinking Tobacco Control: 20 Harm-Reduction Lessons the FCTC Should Take Note Of,” criticizes the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) for not embracing alternatives to smoking, even as the treaty approaches its 20th anniversary in 2025.
“The FCTC’s stubborn refusal to acknowledge the potential of harm-reduction strategies, particularly vaping, nicotine pouches and heat-not-burn products, has not only hindered smoking cessation efforts but has likely cost millions of lives,” the report stated.
Dr. David Khayat, a French oncologist, said that switching from smoking to non-combustible nicotine products could reduce the risk of cancer. In an interview with the Cypriot newspaper Phileleftheros, Khayat pointed to research showing that combustion is responsible for the release of most harmful chemicals in cigarettes.
The Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines echoed support for the findings. “Whether it is e-cigarettes, heated tobacco or nicotine pouches, consumers should be allowed to choose products which are less harmful to them,” said NCUP President Anton Israel.
The report also referenced a study by researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, published in February 2024, which found that smokers who recognized vaping as less harmful were more likely to switch to it over time. The study was supported by the U.K. Medical Research Council, Wellcome, the University of Bristol, Cancer Research UK, and the Society for the Study of Addiction.
WVA said most people who vape are former smokers. “Current evidence suggests that vaping use is primarily limited to former users of traditional tobacco products. About 97 percent of vapers are former smokers,” the report said.
It also noted that countries such as Sweden, the United Kingdom and New Zealand have seen sharp declines in smoking rates after adopting risk-based approaches to tobacco control that include smoke-free alternatives.
“As we move forward, it’s crucial to embrace these evidence-based approaches that can save lives and improve public health outcomes,” the report stated. “Policymakers should consider the full spectrum of harm-reduction tools available, including vaping products with a variety of flavors and nicotine pouches, to provide smokers with the best possible chance of quitting.”
The WVA, which advocates for consumer access to vaping products, argues that understanding the difference between nicotine and the harmful effects of burning tobacco is essential to forming effective policy.
“By doing so, we can accelerate the decline in smoking rates and significantly reduce the burden of smoking-related diseases on our healthcare systems and society as a whole,” the report said.
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