A groundbreaking new study from Australia offers compelling evidence that vaping is significantly more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) when it comes to helping people stop using tobacco – especially among disadvantaged populations.
Study Highlights
Published as a randomized controlled trial, the research focused on over 1,000 participants receiving income support – a group known to have higher smoking rates and greater barriers to cessation. The findings are striking:
- ✅ 28.4% of participants in the vaping group achieved verified six-month continuous abstinence
- ✅ Only 9.6% in the NRT group (patches, gums, etc.) reached the same benchmark
This makes vaping three times more effective in this context – a result with major implications for tobacco harm reduction policy.
“Given the challenges for cessation among these socially disadvantaged populations, Vaporized nicotine products present a promising treatment option for this priority group”, the researchers conclude.
Why This Study Matters
What sets this study apart is not only the size and rigor of the trial but also its real-world applicability:
- Participants were given a choice of vaping devices and flavours, reflecting consumer behavior in practice
- The focus was on a socially disadvantaged group, disproportionately burdened by smoking-related illnesses
- The study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that regulated vaping products are effective cessation tools
Expert Commentary
Prof Leonie Brose (King’s College London):
“What makes this study stand out is its focus on less advantaged groups, who are often hit hardest by smoking-related illnesses. And by offering participants a choice of vaping devices and flavours, the researchers created a more realistic scenario.”
Prof Peter Hajek (Queen Mary University of London):
“In this study with a large sample of people on income support, the advantage of vapes over NRT was three-fold! As vaping poses only a small fraction of risks of smoking, encouraging smokers who find giving up nicotine difficult to use vapes seemed always a logical and sensible thing to do.”
Policy Implications
This new data reinforces the call for proportionate, science-based regulation of vaping products in Europe and beyond. It highlights that vaping can play a key role in tobacco cessation strategies, particularly for vulnerable groups often left behind by traditional approaches.
As regulators debate future legislation, it is vital to ensure that effective harm reduction tools remain accessible and affordable to those who need them most.
🔗 Expert commentary via Science Media Centre
