Quitting smoking with vaping: does support improve the chances of success?

A new UK study published in 2026 offers an interesting answer to a very practical question: does vaping help people quit smoking more effectively when combined with behavioral support?

L’essai randomisé a inclus 1,170 adults who smoked daily and wanted to quit. Three strategies were compared: support emails, a vaping kit sent without regular follow-up, and the same kit combined with several phone calls.

At six months, the rate of continuous abstinence verified by measuring carbon monoxide was 6.4% with emails, 11.3% with vaping alone, and 21.1% with vaping accompanied by telephone support.

How was the study conducted?

Participants were adults who smoked every day, averaging about 19 cigarettes daily. Their average age was 48, and most had previously tried quitting methods.

They were randomly assigned to three groups:

The primary outcome was demanding: researchers looked for continuous abstinence from smoking at six months, verified biologically by measuring exhaled CO. Participants lost to follow-up were considered to have continued smoking.

Results at six months

In this trial, simply receiving a vaping kit led to more verified quits than emails alone. Adding four weeks of telephone support further increased the observed rate.

What about after one year?

At twelve months, the verified quit rates were:

• 5,4 % in the email group;
• 9,0 % in the vaping-only group;
• 16,8 % in the vaping + support group.

The benefit of follow-up was still apparent after one year, although the difference between vaping alone and emails was no longer as statistically clear as it had been at six months.

Why might support help?

L’s value probably isn’t solely to “motivate” people to quit. Calls can also help address very practical problems: equipment being used incorrectly, insufficient nicotine strength, an unsuitable coil, incorrect inhalation, or giving up on the device too soon.

In the study, at four weeks, 74.2% of people receiving support were still using their e-cigarette, compared with 63.8% in the vaping-only group. The authors therefore suggest that follow-up mainly encouraged people to start using the device and continue using it early in their quit attempt.

Nicotine strength can also play a role

A highly dependent smoker who uses too low a nicotine strength may continue to experience strong cigarette cravings. Conversely, an unsuitable concentration can make the experience uncomfortable.

Our guide what nicotine strength should you choose for your e-liquid? explains the main guidelines, without replacing support from a healthcare professional.

How do these results fit with the Cochrane evidence?

The 2026 update of the Cochrane review concludes, with a high level of certainty, that nicotine e-cigarettes lead to more people quitting smoking than nicotine replacement products in the randomized trials analyzed.

But many of these trials also provide behavioral support. The new UK study is therefore interesting because it specifically seeks to separate the effect of the device from that of the additional support.

For details of the systematic review, see our article Cochrane 2026: e-cigarettes or patches?.

One important limitation: the “emails” group also used vaping

Nearly a quarter of participants in the emails group were ultimately using an e-cigarette at six months. There is therefore some contamination between groups: some participants assigned to the control group took up vaping on their own.

This phenomenon makes the interpretation more complex, because the “emails” group is no longer a true group without vaping.

So is vaping alone always enough?

No. L’The study shows an average in a given population, not an individual guarantee. Some people can quit with very little support; others need more structured support, additional treatment, or several attempts.

The choice depends on, among other things:

• level of dependence;
• the number of cigarettes smoked;
• previous quit attempts;
• social environment;
• personal preferences;
• the equipment and nicotine dosage used.

What should you do if you want to quit smoking?

In France, smokers can turn to their doctor, pharmacist, or Tabac Info Service. Professional support can help tailor a strategy to their medical history, current treatments, and level of dependence.

For people who choose e-cigarettes as a substitute, the equipment should be simple, effective enough, and correctly dosed. Our beginner's guide to vaping explains the basics: draw, coil resistance, nicotine, and maintenance.

FAQ

Is vaping proven to help people quit smoking?

Randomized trials reviewed by Cochrane show that nicotine e-cigarettes may increase the chances of quitting compared with some alternatives, including nicotine replacement therapy. This does not mean they work for everyone.

Is support essential?

No, but this UK trial suggests that brief telephone support can improve results compared with sending a kit alone.

Is it common to continue vaping after quitting smoking?

Yes. In this trial, many people who had quit smoking were still vaping after one year. The role of continued vaping is still being studied, particularly in preventing relapse.

Should you reduce nicotine quickly?

There is no one-size-fits-all rule. Reducing nicotine too quickly may increase cigarette cravings for some people. Gradual reduction can be considered once smoking cessation is stable.

Key takeaways

In this trial of 1,170 smokers, vaping alone led to more verified quit attempts than supportive emails, and adding telephone follow-up further improved results. This reinforces the idea that an effective device and appropriate support can complement each other.

Sources: Myers Smith et al., NEJM Evidence, 2026; Vaping Post summary, October 29, 2026; 2026 Cochrane review on e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. Vaping is not risk-free, and this article does not replace medical advice.