E-cigarette use linked to successful attempts to quit smoking
In 2015, use of e-cigarettes may have resulted in an additional 18,000 long-term ex-smokers in England, the study estimates, and the authors say "although these numbers are relatively small, they are clinically significant because of the huge health gains from stopping smoking." They explain that a 40-year-old smoker who quits permanently can expect to gain nine life years compared with a continuing smoker. Nevertheless, as with any observational study, firm conclusions about cause and effect cannot be drawn, they say. Meanwhile, no clear evidence emerged for an association between e-cigarette use and rate of quit attempts, use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) bought over the counter, overall use of prescription treatment, or use of NHS stop-smoking services. The authors explain that the results "conflict with the hypothesis that an increase in population use of e-cigarettes undermines quitting in general." However, e-cigarette use in quit attempts...