Taking a drag from an e-cigarette may be just as safe and effective as using a nicotine patch for smokers struggling to quit, according to new research. The study found that about one in 20 people who used either patches or e-cigarettes managed to quit completely six months after the test started. Also, users of electronic cigarettes were more likely to have cut their use of real cigarettes in half, even if they didn’t quit entirely. Some analysts said that the study results will allow health professionals to feel better about recommending e-cigarettes to smokers, or at least condoning their use. The study's authors said the e-cigarettes are an effective way to help people quit smoking because they replicate a lot of the ritualistic behavior people have about smoking: getting a cigarette out, putting it in their hands, touching it, and the sensation of smoke in their lungs.
Bloomberg