Evidence Supports Trump’s Claim: Vaping Helps People Quit Smoking
US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump recently claimed in a social media post that flavored vaping “greatly helped people get off smoking.” The statement, made on Trump’s Truth Social platform on Sept. 20, 2024, has drawn attention to the role of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation. The post has since garnered nearly 20,000 likes and 4.65k retweets.
Several studies support Trump’s claim, indicating that vaping can be an effective tool for quitting smoking, though the extent of its effectiveness may vary depending on the individual. A review of clinical trials found that e-cigarettes, particularly those containing nicotine, improved smoking cessation rates compared to traditional nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) such as patches and gum. The study showed that nicotine e-cigarettes helped more individuals stop smoking for at least six months than NRTs or e-cigarettes without nicotine.
Large U.S. Survey Reveals High Percentage of Smokers Use Vaping to Quit
A large U.S. survey reported that 71.3% of respondents who both smoked and vaped said they used vaping to aid their attempts to quit smoking. This high percentage indicates that many smokers find vaping to be a viable alternative to traditional cigarettes when trying to quit.
The U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) states that individuals using nicotine vapes are roughly twice as likely to quit smoking compared to those using other NRTs. This data from a major health organization lends credence to the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking cessation aid.
Trump’s Role in Flavored Vaping Regulation
While Trump’s claim that he “saved Flavored Vaping in 2019” is an overstatement, his administration did reverse plans for a comprehensive ban on flavored e-cigarettes. In 2019, the administration ultimately allowed menthol and tobacco flavors to remain on the market while banning fruit and mint flavors in cartridge-based e-cigarettes.
Conclusion: Vaping’s Effectiveness in Smoking Cessation Supported by Evidence
Trump’s claim that vaping “greatly helped people get off smoking” is supported by several studies and surveys. While individual experiences may vary, the available evidence indicates that vaping has indeed helped many people quit smoking. The claim about the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking cessation aid is therefore true.
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