03/09/2026
Nicotine-containing vapes are more effective in helping people quit smoking than many conventional methods such as ni****ne gums and patches and quitting with behavioural support or no support at all, an updated Cochrane review finds. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death, resulting in more than seven million deaths per year, including 1.6 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The latest analysis, part of Cochrane’s ongoing living systematic review that is updated as new evidence becomes available, examined 80 randomised controlled trials involving 29,861 participants, nine of which were new to this update.
“Vaping is a proven and viable option” - Cochrane
“The review found no evidence of increased serious harm from using e-cigarettes to quit” - Cochrane
The states that the review found no evidence of increased serious harm from using e-cigarettes to quit, though researchers say longer-term studies are still needed. The findings also apply specifically to regulated, ni****ne-containing vapes - they says that illicit products or those containing other substances, such as THC, may carry different risks.
