News: E-cigarette - it can reduce 60% smoking!

New study on the “anti-craving” effectiveness of e-cigarettes, with after 8 months of use, a complete cessation rate of 21% and a halving rate of smoking of 23%. In short, in this Belgian study, presented in the International Journal of Environmental Research, at least one in two participants found an anti-smoking benefit with the use of the device and with minimal side effects.

The study, conducted over 8 months, with 48 participants, all smokers and with no particular intention to quit, sought to assess whether the device itself reduced the urge to smoke in the short term and ultimately promoted long-term smoking cessation.

The participants were divided into 3 groups, 2 “e-cigarette” groups, authorized to vape and / or smoke during the first 2 months of the study, and a control group without access to tobacco. In a second step, the control group was able to have access to the e-cig. Then the vaping and smoking habits of all participants were followed for 6 months.

At the end of the 8 month tracking,

21% of all participants had stopped smoking altogether
23% of all participants had reduced their cigarette consumption by at least half.
In 3 groups, the number of cigarettes smoked per day is reduced by 60%.

The results add to the still insufficient evidence that e-cigarettes offer smokers a realistic way to reduce their tobacco dependence.

21% vs 5%: In fact, "the 3 groups show similar results with access to e-cigs," concludes Professor Frank Baeyens, lead author of the study. The reduction and quitting rate here is to be compared to the 3 to 5% of smokers who achieve it with the sole force of their will, he comments.

Remember that in France, no type of electronic cigarette has a marketing authorization (MA). Electronic cigarettes can not be sold in pharmacies because they are not on the list of products that can be issued. Due to their current status as a consumer product, e-cigarettes are exempt from drug regulation and controls for tobacco products.