E-cigarettes are as effective as nicotine patches

A new study, led by Professor Chris Bullen of New Zealand's University of Auckland, states that e-cigarettes are as effective as nicotine patches in helping smokers kick the habit.

According to the team’s findings, 7.3% of e-cigarette users had quit smoking after 6 months, whereas 5.8% of people using the patch had done the same. There is no evidence of e-cigarettes being more effective in helping smokers quit completely; but after 6 months, 57% of e-cigarette users had halved the amount of cigarettes smoked each day. The nicotine patch users had a 16% less success rate in doing the same.

One of the most interesting aspects of the study is that, according to popular response, e-cigarettes are more attractive to smokers than nicotine patches, which may lead to an even higher rate of use.

Because e-cigarettes are a relatively new phenomenon, Professor Bullen suggests long-term studies on the effects and consequences of using e-cigarettes.