Vaping is an Effective Quit-Smoking Aid: French Experts Confirm

For years, a passionate debate has surrounded the role of electronic cigarettes (vapes) in the fight against tobacco. While many experts have championed vaping as a valuable harm reduction and smoking cessation tool, others have raised valid concerns about its own health risks, its appeal to youth, and the potential for prolonged “dual use” (using both cigarettes and vapes), which could undermine quitting efforts. Now, in a significant development, the Société Francophone de Tabacologie (SFT) – a respected society of French-speaking experts including pulmonologists, tobacco specialists, nurses, and pharmacists – has formally weighed in. After a rigorous scientific consensus process (using the established Delphi method), these experts have published a landmark document confirming that vaping is indeed an effective tool for tobacco cessation, while also emphasizing that its use should be transitional.

This consensus provides crucial clarity and reinforces the position that for an adult smoker, finding a viable path away from combustible tobacco is a paramount public health goal. As Professor Jacques Cornuz, a member of the SFT’s board of directors and a professor at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, succinctly puts it, “For a smoker, anything is better than continuing to consume conventional cigarettes. Vaping offers a gateway out of the world of tobacco.”

The Verdict: Vaping is Part of the Therapeutic Arsenal

The expert panel’s conclusion is built on a careful evaluation of the available scientific evidence. They determined that the “risk-benefit ratio of using electronic cigarettes in the context of smoking cessation support is favorable.” Based on this, they concluded that e-cigarettes can be used as a “nicotine substitution tool.”

The SFT experts considered that, “according to current data, [the e-cigarette] is effective for smoking cessation (defined as abstinence for six months or more).” This led them to a clear and decisive verdict. “There is no longer any doubt: the electronic cigarette is now part of the therapeutic arsenal for smoking cessation,” summarizes Professor Cornuz, who coordinated the consensus. This statement officially positions vaping alongside other recognized cessation aids like nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) and prescription medications within the French-speaking medical community’s recommendations.

The Nuance of “Dual Use”: A Temporary, Transitional Phase

One of the primary concerns often raised by critics of vaping as a cessation tool is the phenomenon of “dual use,” where an individual continues to smoke traditional cigarettes while also vaping. The SFT experts addressed this issue directly, agreeing that while e-cigarettes can very probably reduce tobacco-related risks, this benefit is realized only on the condition that the person stops smoking completely.

The goal is to avoid prolonged dual use of tobacco and vapes over many months. “The simultaneous use of vapes and conventional cigarettes can be understood as a transitional phase of weaning off [tobacco],” explains Professor Cornuz, “but it must remain temporary. Continuing to smoke while vaping very probably brings no benefit in terms of risk reduction. Indeed, it is well demonstrated that it is the regularity of smoking, more than the number of cigarettes smoked each day, that maintains cardiovascular and respiratory risk.”

Fortunately, as Professor Cornuz notes, in the majority of cases, individuals who adopt vaping as a quit aid do eventually stop using tobacco entirely, retaining only the e-cigarette. However, the experts also stress that the use of the vape itself should be limited in time, with the ultimate goal being a gradual cessation of vaping once the person is confident they will not relapse to smoking. Vaping is seen as a tool to get off cigarettes, not necessarily as a permanent replacement for all users.

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Clinical Guidance: Combining Vapes with NRTs and Embracing Personalization

The consensus document also provides important clinical guidance for healthcare professionals supporting patients on their quit journey. A key point of agreement is that “the electronic cigarette can be used in combination with nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs)” like patches, gum, or lozenges. The scientific literature has not shown any particular risk associated with this combined approach. This can be a highly effective strategy, allowing a smoker to get a steady baseline of nicotine from an NRT patch while using a vape to manage acute cravings and the behavioral aspects of smoking.

A significant challenge for healthcare providers, however, is that quitting with a vape does not follow a single, standardized protocol, unlike prescription medications like varenicline (Champix) or bupropion. Each vaper’s journey is highly individualized. They choose their own device, nicotine concentration, and flavors. Professor Cornuz advises a flexible, patient-centered approach: “The objective is to gradually reduce consumption, letting each person decide their own pace, their doses, and their flavors. Preserving the pleasure associated with use is essential for successful cessation.” This highlights the importance of the psychological and behavioral components of quitting, where the wide variety of vape flavors and experiences can play a crucial role in keeping a former smoker engaged and away from cigarettes.

The Long-Term Question and the Precautionary Principle

While the SFT experts are clear on vaping’s short- to medium-term benefits for smokers, they also acknowledge the remaining uncertainties. The experts emphasize that the use of e-cigarettes should not be prolonged for months or years on end, because the long-term risks are still not well understood. In fact, one of the statements that did not achieve consensus among the SFT experts was the assertion that “according to current data, the use of the electronic cigarette for several years generates few severe adverse effects.” This lack of consensus indicates a healthy scientific caution and acknowledges that while vaping is substantially safer than smoking, it is not risk-free, and more long-term data is needed to fully characterize its safety profile over decades of use.

A Critical Distinction: A Tool for Smokers, Not for Youth

Professor Cornuz and the SFT are adamant about drawing a clear line between vaping as a tool for adult smokers and its use by non-smokers, especially young people. “It must be remembered that it is not the effects of nicotine that cause cancers, nor heart, metabolic, or pulmonary diseases, but rather the degradation products of tobacco [combustion]. Nicotine, for its part, is responsible for dependence,” he states.

While vaping is now recognized as a cessation tool, “conversely, among non-smokers, and especially among young people, any exposure to vaping must be avoided,” warns the pulmonologist. “The challenge is to prevent the emergence of new generations dependent on nicotine because of vaping. Public policies must ensure that vaping is not perceived as a desirable practice among young people.” This underscores the need for robust regulations on marketing, packaging, and sales to prevent youth access and appeal, a challenge public health authorities worldwide are currently grappling with.

Conclusion: A Confirmed Ally in a Complex Fight

The consensus reached by the Société Francophone de Tabacologie is a significant moment in the ongoing public health debate. It formally recognizes the electronic cigarette as a legitimate and effective tool in the “therapeutic arsenal” for helping adult smokers quit the far more dangerous habit of smoking. By acknowledging the favorable risk-benefit ratio for smokers, the SFT provides clear guidance to healthcare professionals and reassurance to smokers seeking a viable exit from tobacco. However, their position is carefully nuanced, emphasizing that vaping should be a temporary, transitional tool, that complete cessation of smoking is essential to realize health benefits, and that robust public policies are needed to protect non-smokers and young people from initiating nicotine use through these products. This evidence-based, pragmatic approach confirms vaping as a confirmed ally in the complex and vital fight against tobacco, but one that must be wielded with care, caution, and clear-sighted regulation.

Sources: Interview with Prof. Jacques Cornuz (Oct 30, 2025); Lüthi E, et al. “Electronic cigarette for smoking cessation: a fast-track Delphi consensus of French-speaking experts.” Arch Public Health. 2025 Oct 23;83(1):260; Santé publique France, Tabac info service.

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.