Vaping may help some adults who smoke cut down or quit, but as of October 2026 the FDA has not approved any e-cigarette to help people quit smoking, and the studies disagree on how well vapes work. The approach with the strongest support is an FDA-approved quit medicine used together with counseling, and free help is available by phone and text.
What the Cochrane review news means for you
The CDC cites a 2024 Cochrane review by Lindson and colleagues, Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation, among its references. The CDC describes this research cautiously: a number of studies suggest that e-cigarettes with nicotine may help adults quit compared with e-cigarettes without nicotine or no treatment, but the long-term health effects are still uncertain. The word ‘potential’ is doing real work in that sentence. It means a possible benefit that needs more study, not a sure result. You can read the CDC’s wording on CDC’s vaping and quitting page.
What the vaping studies actually found
Four kinds of research are behind the back-and-forth. Here is what each one reports and where it falls short.
| Study or source | What it looked at | What it found | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashour review, Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (2023), PMC review of vaping trials | Concludes vaping appears to be an effective method for smoking cessation and is linked to a lower risk of adverse events than combustible cigarettes | Most trials followed people for a few weeks to a few months, and devices varied widely | |
| Carpenter and colleagues, eClinical Medicine (2023), reported by MUSC Hollings Cancer Center | A naturalistic trial, described as the largest US trial of e-cigarettes, including smokers who did not want to quit and who got little instruction | Smokers given e-cigarettes showed greater abstinence and reduced harm than those who did not get them. The lead author said: This is not a panacea for smoking cessation. | Smoking status was based on self-reports, because planned in-person samples could not be collected during COVID |
| Quach and colleagues, JAMA (March 2025), reported by UC San Diego Today | Data from more than 6,000 US smokers in the PATH Study, with 943 who also vaped matched to similar smokers who did not | Quitting was 4.1% lower among daily vapers and 5.3% lower among non-daily vapers compared with matched non-vapers | This was a comparison of matched groups in survey data, not a trial where people were assigned to vape |
| NHS summary of a 2021 review, on the NHS e-cigarette guidance | People who used e-cigarettes to quit | Those who also had expert face-to-face support could be up to twice as likely to succeed as people who used patches or gum | The expert support was part of the result, and the NHS says you will not get the full benefit unless you stop smoking completely |
The studies disagree for clear reasons. The UC San Diego researchers say earlier studies did not always account for factors such as interest in quitting, a smoke-free home and socioeconomic status, and that this gap helped keep the idea that vaping helps quitting alive. The reviews, meanwhile, pool trials of different devices, lengths and groups. The honest reading is that the results are mixed and the question is still open.
What is still not known
- Long-term health effects. The Ashour review states that the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes are unknown. The CDC says they are still uncertain.
- What is in the vapor. Smokefree.gov’s e-cigarette page says e-cigarette aerosol can contain heavy metals, flavorings linked to lung disease, small particles that reach deep into the lungs, and cancer-causing chemicals.
- Is it safer than smoking? The CDC says e-cigarette aerosol generally contains fewer toxic chemicals than cigarette smoke, but it is not harmless.
- Pregnancy. The NHS says little research has been done, and it is not known whether the vapor is harmful to a baby. For pregnancy, the NHS recommends licensed patches and gum.
The clinical detail that matters most: withdrawal timing
Nicotine withdrawal usually starts within hours of your last cigarette and peaks around day three. A 2015 review of nicotine withdrawal, hosted by the NIH’s PubMed Central, describes symptoms that begin 4 to 24 hours after the last use, peak around the third day, and taper off over the following three to four weeks. That is why the first week is the hardest. The CDC notes that withdrawal can’t hurt you, but it can push you back to a cigarette. A plan for those first days matters more than willpower alone.
Your options, side by side
Here are the main routes, with their status, who they suit, what they cost and their limits.
| Option | Status as of October 2026 | Who it suits | Cost | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seven FDA-approved medicines: nicotine patch, lozenge, gum, oral inhaler and nasal spray, plus the pills varenicline and bupropion SR | Approved by the FDA for adults to quit cigarettes, according to the CDC’s quit-smoking medicines page | Adults who smoke cigarettes. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under 18, talk with a doctor first, per the CDC | Nicotine replacement comes over the counter or by prescription. Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans must cover treatment to help people quit smoking, so check your plan | Nicotine replacement eases physical cravings and withdrawal but does not address the mental, emotional and social side of quitting, according to Cleveland Clinic |
| Counseling and quitlines | Recommended alongside medicine. The CDC says counseling and medication together give the best chance of quitting successfully | Anyone who wants coaching and a plan | Free. The CDC says trained quit coaches at 1-800-QUIT-NOW provide confidential help at no cost to callers | Text programs may charge message and data rates, per the CDC |
| E-cigarettes with nicotine | The CDC says the FDA has not approved any e-cigarette products to help people quit smoking | The CDC says they may benefit adults who smoke and are not pregnant, if used as a complete substitute for cigarettes | Prices change. Check today’s price directly with the seller | They usually contain nicotine. Using them alongside cigarettes is not an effective way to protect your health |
| E-cigarettes labeled nicotine-free | Same FDA status as other e-cigarettes | The CDC says studies suggest nicotine-containing e-cigarettes may help adults quit more than nicotine-free ones | Check the label and price with the seller | Smokefree.gov notes some e-cigarettes that claim to be nicotine-free have been found to contain nicotine |
| Nicotine pouches | The NHS says there is not enough independent evidence yet on how well they help people quit | The NHS says it is usually best to use medicines, NRT or vapes first | Check the price directly with the seller | Read more on our nicotine pouches and quitting cigarettes page |
| Cutting down or quitting without a product | Not a product. Rush University describes a gradual approach as what most people go for | People who want to test strategies first | Free | Quitting cold turkey can be tough because your body may be dependent on nicotine, per the NHS |
Can I just switch to a vape to quit?
Many people try it, and wanting a better way out is a normal part of the story. Before you decide, know what the CDC says about dual use: using both cigarettes and e-cigarettes is not an effective way to safeguard your health, and it may bring greater exposure to toxins and worse respiratory outcomes than using either product alone. If you do use e-cigarettes to help you quit, the CDC advises making a plan to quit vaping as well. A clinician can help you compare that route with the approved options.
Which e-cig is best, and what is the healthiest vape?
The NHS advises that the nicotine strength should match how much you smoke. The CDC’s point about fewer toxic chemicals still applies: it is less than cigarette smoke, not zero. A quit coach or your clinician can help you weigh that against the approved options. Before you buy any device, read the quit-smoking medicines comparison so you know what else is available.
Vape kit programs and vapes with no nicotine
Hollings Cancer Center reported in August 2023 that the UK’s Swap to Stop program will distribute vaping starter kits to one million people who smoke. Ask the program directly about its terms and who qualifies before you count on a kit. In the US, Hollings reports that e-cigarettes are not approved as smoking cessation aids. For a nicotine-free route, varenicline and bupropion are prescription pills that do not contain nicotine, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Is there a fake cigarette that helps you quit?
The nicotine oral inhaler is one of the seven FDA-approved quit medicines listed by the CDC. It is a nicotine product, and a clinician can advise whether it suits you.
What kills the urge to smoke?
Cravings usually come within an hour or two of your last cigarette and are most frequent for the next few days or weeks, then they come farther apart, according to the National Cancer Institute’s withdrawal fact sheet. These tips help many people get through a craving:
- Keep your hands busy, and keep your mouth busy with carrots, celery, sugarless gum or hard candy.
- Take a deep breath through your nose and blow out slowly through your mouth, repeating 10 times.
- Remember that cravings pass, and that you never have to give in to one.
- Text CRAVE to 47848 for 24/7 support, per Smokefree.gov’s withdrawal page.
For a broader plan, see our quit smoking starter guide.
What is the most successful way to quit smoking?
The CDC’s data show that using counseling and medication together gives adults the best chance of quitting successfully. The same CDC data show that less than 1 in 10 adults who smoke succeed in quitting in a given year, which is why most people try several times. ODPHP notes that it often takes several tries, and each attempt brings you closer. Bring your questions to a visit using our preparing for a quit-smoking visit checklist.
What happens when you quit smoking and start vaping?
You may stop getting nicotine from cigarettes but keep getting it from the vape. The NHS says you will not get the full benefit from vaping unless you stop smoking cigarettes completely. The CDC also says that quitting vaping is likely similar to quitting smoking, because both involve nicotine addiction and both can bring withdrawal. Plan for that from day one.
Can your lungs recover after smoking?
Your lungs do start to improve after you quit. Rush University’s smoking cessation tips say lung function starts to improve within two to three months. ODPHP says you will breathe more easily, cough and wheeze less, and your lungs will become stronger, making it easier to be active. The CDC says quitting greatly reduces your risk of smoking-related diseases. How much your own lungs recover is something a clinician can check with you. Our lung health after smoking page covers the timeline in more detail.
What are the first signs of lung damage from smoking?
If you have a cough or breathing symptoms that last, ask a clinician to check them. Quitting usually brings relief from cough and wheeze, so symptoms that persist are a reason for a check. To tell COPD symptoms apart from withdrawal, read our withdrawal or COPD symptoms guide. If you have sudden, unexpected trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other alarming symptom, get urgent care right away.
Before you decide: a short checklist
- Talk with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist about which FDA-approved option fits you, as ODPHP suggests.
- Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free help, or text QUITNOW to 333888.
- Check your insurance coverage for quit-smoking treatment and medicines before you start.
- If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under 18, talk with a doctor before using any quit medicine.
- Smokefree.gov notes that only people age 21 and over are allowed to buy e-cigarettes under FDA regulations.
- Ask the seller for the nicotine content on the label, because some products labeled nicotine-free have been found to contain nicotine.
Slips are part of quitting. ODPHP says many people try several times before they succeed, and each try teaches you something.
By SmokersLung.com Respiratory Health Education Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.