Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking? NYU Research Suggests It Is

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Earlier this year, New York University (NYU) researchers released the findings of their report titled “Harm Minimization and Tobacco Control: Reframing Societal Views of Nicotine Use to Rapidly Save Lives,” which suggests that vaping is much less harmful than smoking cigarettes.

Harm Minimization

The harm reduction approach acknowledges that the adverse effects of nicotine-containing products fall on a continuum of harm, ranging from exceptionally low to exceptionally high. So, is vaping safer than smoking? According to the report, non-combustible nicotine-containing options such as patches, gums, nasal sprays, and e-cigarettes fall on the lower end of the spectrum while combustible nicotine delivery systems such as traditional cigarettes, pipes, and cigars fall on the higher end, meaning that switching from smoking to vaping would result in significantly less harm to the user.

Citing a previous study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), a leading medical journal, they assert that the “replacement of most cigarette use by e-cigarette use over a 10-year period yields up to 6.6 million fewer premature deaths with 86.7 million fewer life years lost.”

With that in mind, they posit that any reduction in relative harm from a previous level should be encouraged. Although the best case scenario is one where users don’t use any nicotine-containing products at all, they promote a more realistic view whereby if the consumer does not want to stop the consumption of nicotine, then the goal should be to eliminate their use of smoked or combustible tobacco. In other words, they should be encouraged to use alternative non-combustible products like the ones mentioned above.

Why Are E-Cigarettes the “Sweet Spot?”

While combusted products such as cigarettes score high on appeal and satisfaction, they are also the most toxic. While nicotine replacement therapies such as gums, patches, and nasal sprays provide nicotine without the deleterious toxins present in smoke, they lack the appeal and satisfaction associated with the inhaling and exhaling of vapor and are therefore not likely to replace cigarettes at a population level. E-cigarettes have the potential to rival cigarettes since they score low on relative toxicity and high on appeal and satisfaction, as evidenced by the increase in their use by ex-smokers in the UK and the US.

Recommendations for Public Policy

Not surprisingly, the report suggests the need to reaffirm harm minimization in tobacco control to save smokers’ lives and protect youth. They also recommend educating the public about the relative harms of various nicotine products and reducing the misconceptions surrounding e-cigarettes so that users can make an informed decision.

What are your thoughts on the harm reduction approach? Tell us in the comments section below.

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