A person holds a vape pen near Bryant Park on December 02, 2024 in New York City. — AFP file

People who vape while still smoking cigarettes are less likely to successfully quit than those who only do one or the other, according to a new study published on Wednesday. Over time, most of these "dual users" tend to revert to smoking cigarettes exclusively, as highlighted by the study in the journal ERJ Open Research. The international research team analyzed existing data on smoking and vaping before consolidating the results. After four to eight months, only three percent of dual users managed to quit smoking, compared to eight percent of exclusive vapers and six percent of those who only smoked cigarettes. After 16 to 24 months, 13 percent of dual users had quit, versus 26 percent of vapers and 17 percent of smokers. Two years later, 58 percent of dual users had returned to smoking cigarettes exclusively, the study found.

"Given the extensive marketing of vapes as healthier alternatives to conventional smoking, they have gained popularity among people trying to quit smoking," said lead study author Josef Hamoud of Germany's University Medical Center Goettingen. The existing research revealed "concerning results" about simultaneous smoking and vaping, he noted in a statement. "There is still a lot we don't know about the long-term health effects of vaping."

E-cigarettes, which have surged in popularity over the last decade, do not contain tobacco but instead use a liquid typically filled with nicotine that is inhaled as vapor. Because they lack tar, carbon monoxide, and other toxic elements associated with smoking, the health risks of vaping are deemed to be significantly lower. However, the World Health Organization and anti-smoking groups have refrained from asserting that vaping is less harmful than smoking, emphasizing the need for more evidence based on the precautionary principle. A 2022 Cochrane review, considered the gold standard for analyzing available knowledge, found strong evidence that e-cigarettes are more effective for quitting smoking than nicotine patches or gum.

Concerns about young people adopting vaping en masse have led some countries to ban e-cigarettes or at least prohibit disposable versions and kid-friendly flavors. Given the widespread deaths caused by tobacco, many medical researchers advocate for keeping vaping legal as a tool for quitting smoking, while taking all possible measures to prevent young people from starting either habit.

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