A study from Queen Mary University of London shows that smokers who quit using e-cigarettes and then continue to vejpa are less likely to start smoking again. The study is published in the scientific journal Addiction and is the first to clearly show that continued use of e-cigarettes can protect against relapse.
Research in brief
E-cigarettes are used longer than other devices
When smokers quit using traditional nicotine replacement products, such as nicotine gum or patches, only a small proportion continue to use them in the longer term. In contrast, among those who quit smoking using e-cigarettes, it is common to continue to vejpa long after quitting.
This has led to an important question in tobacco research: does continued vejping put people at risk of relapsing into smoking - or, on the contrary, can it help people stay smoke-free?
Major study provides clear answer
The research team at Queen Mary University, analysed data from a previous large randomised trial involving 886 smokers. The original study showed that e-cigarettes were more effective than nicotine replacement therapy in helping smokers quit. In the new analysis, the researchers compared how often participants started smoking again over the period from a few weeks after quitting up to a year later.
The results were clear. People who quit smoking using e-cigarettes had a lower risk of relapse than those who used nicotine replacement therapy. In addition, those who continued to vejpa were less likely to start smoking again than those who did not use e-cigarettes at all.
Researchers: ”Should not be discouraged”
Professor Peter Hajek, who led the study, emphasises that e-cigarettes pose significantly less health risks than smoking. According to him, continued vejping can play an important role in preventing relapse in people who have quit smoking with the help of e-cigarettes - and should therefore not be discouraged.
Hayden McRobbie, Professor of Population Health, also emphasises the importance of relapse prevention. He says that people who have quit smoking with the help of e-cigarettes are likely to benefit from continuing vejpa for as long as they need to feel confident about not starting to smoke again.
More studies needed
The researchers are now calling for more studies to examine whether the effect persists in the longer term.
