Vaping to Quit Smoking
Many adults who smoke look at vaping when they think about quitting cigarettes. Our team once covered this topic in a short video, and you can find our videos on the ZampleBox YouTube channel. Here is the careful version of what you should know before you decide anything.
Short version: Nicotine is addictive. No vaping product is FDA-approved as a quit-smoking aid, and public-health bodies disagree on the details. If you smoke and are thinking about switching, talk to your doctor first.
Why quitting is hard
Nicotine is the main ingredient that makes cigarettes addictive, and withdrawal is a big part of what makes quitting so difficult. That is why many quit-smoking products deliver nicotine in another form while people work on breaking the habit.
Where vaping fits in
Vapes heat a liquid that usually contains nicotine and turn it into an aerosol that you inhale. Some adults who smoke are drawn to vaping because it delivers nicotine while keeping the familiar hand-to-mouth routine of smoking.
That does not make vaping a proven way to quit. The FDA has not approved any vaping product as a quit-smoking aid, and public-health agencies do not all agree on what role vaping should play for adults who smoke. Vape juice with nicotine is still addictive.
Approved options to ask about
The FDA has approved several quit-smoking aids, including nicotine patches, gum and lozenges, as well as prescription medicines. A doctor or pharmacist can help you choose what fits your situation.
For a longer look at this question, read Can Vaping Help You Quit Smoking?
Where things stand now
Guidance on vaping and smoking keeps evolving. Every vaping product sold in the US now needs FDA premarket authorization, but authorization to sell a product is not the same as approval as a quit aid. For current guidance, see the CDC and the FDA, and talk to your doctor about the options that are right for you.
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. For adults 21+ only.