Vaping More Effective Than Nicotine Gum and Lozenges for Smoking Cessation in Disadvantaged Groups
A new study shows vaporized nicotine products outperform nicotine gum and lozenges in helping socially disadvantaged groups quit smoking, offering a promising harm reduction strategy.
Recent research highlights that vaporized nicotine products (VNPs), commonly known as e-cigarettes, demonstrate superior effectiveness in aiding smoking cessation compared to traditional nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) like gum and lozenges. A comprehensive randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted among individuals experiencing social disadvantages tested the efficacy of VNPs versus NRTs over a period of eight weeks.
The study involved 1,045 participants in New South Wales, Australia, all of whom smoked daily, were aged at least 18, willing to quit within two weeks, and received a government pension or allowance, indicating low socioeconomic status (SES). Participants were randomly assigned to either the VNP or NRT group, with the NRT group choosing between nicotine gum or lozenges, and the VNP group receiving nicotine e-liquid for use in various devices, available in flavors like tobacco, menthol, and fruit.
All participants received behavioral support through automated text messaging for five weeks. The primary outcome measured was six-month continuous abstinence from smoking. Results showed a significant difference: 28.4% of VNP users remained smoke-free after six months, compared to only 9.6% in the NRT group.
Subgroup analyses divided by age, gender, nicotine dependence, and mental health status confirmed VNPs' greater effectiveness across diverse demographic groups. This evidence suggests that VNPs could play a critical role in helping populations most impacted by smoking-related harms to achieve long-term abstinence.
The findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, point towards the potential of vaporized nicotine products not only for the general population but especially for those with socioeconomic disadvantages, who often face hurdles in quitting smoking due to limited access to traditional therapies. This research underscores the importance of integrating innovative harm reduction strategies like VNPs into public health initiatives to reduce smoking prevalence and health disparities.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-vapes-effective-cessation-nicotine-gum.html
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