--- title: Vaping May Reduce Cigarette Smoking Relapse description: Individuals who quit smoking with the help of e-cigarettes are less likely to relapse than those who used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/vaping_iStock-2154697521.jpg --- 1/23/26 1:27 PM # Vaping May Reduce Cigarette Smoking Relapse ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/vaping-may-reduce-cigarette-smoking-relapse) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/vaping-may-reduce-cigarette-smoking-relapse) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/vaping-may-reduce-cigarette-smoking-relapse) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/vaping-may-reduce-cigarette-smoking-relapse) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/vaping-may-reduce-cigarette-smoking-relapse) ![vaping_iStock-2154697521](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/vaping_iStock-2154697521.jpg?width=220&height=147&name=vaping_iStock-2154697521.jpg)Individuals who quit smoking with the help of e-cigarettes are less likely to relapse than those who used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), according to a [study](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.70294) published in *Addiction.*   **Why It’s Relevant** E-cigarettes are effective tools to help people quit smoking, but they still carry their own health risks. It’s unclear whether clinicians should counsel their patients to stop using e-cigarettes once they use them to stop smoking, the researchers wrote. The key question is “whether the use of [e-cigarettes] post-smoking cessation decreases or increases the risk of relapse back to smoking.” If e-cigarettes help prevent relapse, it would be a net-positive impact on health.   **By the Numbers** - The researchers conducted a secondary analysis on [a trial of 886 smokers](https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1808779) (median age 41 years, 48% female), some who quit smoking with the help of NRT and some who quit by using e-cigarettes. - Four weeks after starting their intervention, **45% of those in the e-cigarette arm reported abstinence** (defined as not smoking in the past seven days) compared with 30% in the NRT arm. - Participants in the e-cigarette arm who were **abstinent at four weeks had a** **22% lower risk of relapsing **at 12 months than individuals in the NRT arm. - Participants in the e-cigarette arm who were **abstinent at six months had a** **29% lower risk of relapsing **at 12 months than those in the NRT arm.   **The Other Side** Abstinence rates may have been overestimated because they were self-reported and not biochemically verified. Additionally, more studies are needed to assess if the findings hold beyond one year and apply to prolonged e-cigarette use.   **Takeaway Message** The study “provides the first evidence that smokers who successfully stop smoking and continue [e-cigarette] use reduce their risk of relapse back to smoking,” the researchers wrote. “If replicated, the finding would provide evidence that successful quitters who continue to use [e-cigarettes] should not be discouraged from such use.” ** ** **Related Information** “**[FDA Surprises Health Advocates by Authorizing First Menthol E-Cigarettes](https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2024.09.8.32)**”   **Source** Peter Hajek et al. Continuing use of e-cigarettes after stopping smoking and relapse: secondary analysis of a large randomised controlled trial. *Addiction*. Published January 21, 2026. doi: 10.1111/add.70294.   (Image: Getty Images/iStock/Keeproll)   [cigarettes](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cigarettes), [E-cigarettes](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/e-cigarettes), [addiction](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/addiction), [smoking](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/smoking), [relapse](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/relapse), [vaping](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/vaping) ## Related Posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/vaping-iStock-1176085829-Jun-24-2025-03-41-31-3427-PM.jpg?height=200&name=vaping-iStock-1176085829-Jun-24-2025-03-41-31-3427-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2021/08/most-adolescents-have-tried-or-want-to.html) ## [Most Adolescents Have Tried or Want to Quit Vaping, Study Reports](https://alert.psychnews.org/2021/08/most-adolescents-have-tried-or-want-to.html) 6/24/24 11:16 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2021/08/most-adolescents-have-tried-or-want-to.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/doc_patient_iStock-540570960-Jun-24-2025-05-16-06-2932-PM.jpg?height=200&name=doc_patient_iStock-540570960-Jun-24-2025-05-16-06-2932-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2021/08/rewards-improve-abstinence-adherence-in.html) ## [Rewards Improve Abstinence, Adherence in Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/2021/08/rewards-improve-abstinence-adherence-in.html) 8/5/21 12:00 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2021/08/rewards-improve-abstinence-adherence-in.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/e-cigs-iStock-1287575493-Jun-24-2025-03-21-12-1364-PM.jpg?height=200&name=e-cigs-iStock-1287575493-Jun-24-2025-03-21-12-1364-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2022/11/use-of-electronic-cigarettes-continues.html) ## [Use of Electronic Cigarettes Continues to Rise Among Teens](https://alert.psychnews.org/2022/11/use-of-electronic-cigarettes-continues.html) 6/24/24 11:16 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2022/11/use-of-electronic-cigarettes-continues.html) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Psychiatric News Alert", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert" }, "dateModified" : "2026-01-23T18:27:55.017Z", "datePublished" : "2026-01-23T18:27:55.000Z", "headline" : "Vaping May Reduce Cigarette Smoking Relapse", "image" : [ "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/vaping_iStock-2154697521.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/vaping-may-reduce-cigarette-smoking-relapse", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/PN-Blue-Box.jpg" } } } ```