Patches, chewing gum, vaporizers… None of these products would be as effective in quitting smoking as the electronic cigarette.
According to a clinical trial conducted by Queen Mary University of London, e-cigarettes are almost twice as effective as nicotine replacement treatments, such as patches and chewing gum, in helping smokers quit smoking.
The trial, which involved nearly 900 smokers, found that 18% of e-cigarette users had quit after a year, while only 9.9% of those using patches, vaporizers and gummies chew had succeeded in stopping their consumption.
Weekly psychological support
So far, “although a large number of smokers report successful quitting with the help of e-cigarettes, healthcare professionals have been reluctant to recommend their use, due to the lack of clear evidence from of randomized controlled trials. This is now likely to change,” said study director Peter Hajek.
886 smokers followed by the UK National Health Service smoking cessation services and were randomly assigned to two groups. The former chose a nicotine replacement treatment (patch, chewing gum, vaporizers or a combination of these products). The latter smoked the electronic cigarette at their convenience. All participants received weekly psychological support for at least four weeks.
Nicotine replacement therapy caused more nausea
Among participants who did not achieve complete abstinence, more e-cigarette users reduced their smoking. E-cigarette users reported more throat and mouth irritation, while nicotine replacement therapy caused more nausea. Weight gain is unfortunately not mentioned here.
“This study clearly demonstrates that e-cigarettes are almost twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapies in helping smokers quit,” the experts conclude. Remember here that if vaping is preferable to cigarettes, it is still harmful to health. If you are not a smoker, you should not practice it.
Last May, Santé Publique France announced that France now had one million fewer smokers, going from 13.2 million tobacco users to 12.2 million. The prevalence of daily smoking fell from 29.4% in 2016 to 26.9% in 2017, a decrease of 2.5 points. This observation is particularly marked among men aged 18 to 24 (44% in 2016 vs 35% in 2017) and among women aged 55 to 64 (21% vs 18% in 2017). But 73,000 deaths a year are still due to this addiction.
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