A new study based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that e-cigarettes are both the most popular and most effective method of quitting smoking among US adults. The study is based on data from the National Health Interview Survey 2022 and has analysed which methods former smokers have used and how these have affected their success rate.
According to the study, around 2.9 million American adults gave up cigarettes during 2022. Most of them were white men under the age of 55, with a college education and no signs of depression.
E-cigarettes most commonly used smoking cessation aid
Among those who successfully quit, 53.9 per cent used some form of aid, such as nicotine replacement therapy or e-cigarettes. 40.8 per cent used e-cigarettes in combination with other tools, while 26 per cent used e-cigarettes exclusively.
On the other hand, prescription medication was far less common - only 8.1 per cent of those who quit smoking used this method. Other methods without nicotine or medication were used by 6.3 per cent of smokers.
Education and age play a role
The study found that younger people with a higher education were more likely to successfully quit smoking. Compared to those who tried unsuccessfully, they were also more likely to use e-cigarettes as an aid.
The researchers behind the report emphasise that a large proportion of smokers still try to quit without any form of aid, despite the proven success of e-cigarettes in particular. They therefore believe that future smoking cessation initiatives should target groups that are more difficult to quit and that greater emphasis should be placed on evidence-based methods.
In total, 13.1 million American adults tried to quit smoking in 2022, but without success.
