Electronic Cigarette Health Study: E-Cigs Help Quit Smoking
April 1, 2011 – Boston University School of Public Health [BUSPH] researchers have completed a study reporting that electronic cigarettes show great promise in helping traditional cigarette smokers quit. According to their results, traditional cigarette smokers that switched to some of the best electronic cigarettes claimed six-month abstinence rates twice as high than those ordinarily coming from other nicotine replacement products like nicotine patches and gum.
According to the article in this month’s American Journal of Preventive Medicine highlighting the study, 31% of respondents claimed to have quit smoking within 6 months of purchasing an electronic cigarette. By contrast, the average 6 month abstinence rate for all other nicotine replacement products like nicotine patches or gum, is 12-18%.
Of course, this is no news to us at Quit Smoking Comparison, nor is it to many of the thousands of readers of this site. And while the federal government still restricts electronic cigarette companies from advertising as quit-smoking devices, consumers are apparently figuring it out for themselves. It’s not a great mental leap, after all.
Michael Siegel, lead author and professor of community health sciences explains “This study suggests that electronic cigarettes are helping thousands of ex-smokers remain off cigarettes.” The researchers conducted an online survey reviewing electronic cigarette smokers, specifically 222 ex-cigarette smokers who were first-time purchasers of the devices. Of those who had completely quit smoking after 6 months, 34.3 percent claimed they had ceased using electronic cigarettes or any nicotine-containing products. And nearly 67% of all respondents had reduced traditional cigarette smoking in that time.
Siegel also said what we’ve always known, that he believes there is a correlation with the physical simulation of smoking in the chances of success of quitting:
While it is well-recognized that nicotine plays a role in smoking addiction, little attention has been given to the behavioral aspects of the addiction. These devices simulate the smoking experience, which appears to make them effective as a smoking cessation tool.
Readers of the site are no stranger to the many laws that have come on the books in both the federal and state governments. With the grand success of these new product, lawmakers have been caught off guard with how to regulate the e-cigs. Of course, there are many valid points to their concerns, not least of which involves the potential for minors’ access to electronic cigarettes. But states like NY should review electronic cigarette benefits much more closely before considering a ban.
“Banning this product would invariably result in many ex-smokers returning to cigarette smoking,” Siegel said. “Removing electronic cigarettes from the market would substantially harm the publics health.”
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