Adults are ditching cigarettes for vaping.
The numbers prove it. The national adult usage rate of e-cigarettes increased by 44% from 4.5% in 2019 to 6.5% in 2023. Millions of adults are switching every year.
Here’s what’s going on.
Despite how deadly smoking cigarettes is, adult smokers understand there are lower risk alternatives out there. Whether you buy cigarettes online like from native smokes for less or at your local gas station, more and more longtime smokers are turning to vaping products to smoke less.
The writing is on the wall. Let’s dive into science.
Table of Contents
What you’ll learn:
- Why Adults Are Turning To Vaping Products Instead of Cigarettes
- How Switching to Vapor Helps Smokers Quit
- Everything Else You Need to Know Before Switching
Why Adults Are Turning To Vaping Products Instead of Cigarettes
If you haven’t noticed yet, adults smoking regular cigarettes is declining faster than we’ve seen in decades.
Recent government health data shows adult cigarette smoking rates fell all the way down to 10.8% as of late 2023. That’s the lowest rate the US has seen in over 60 years.
So what’s behind the trend?
Part of it is better education around the risks of smoking. Another reason is adults have more access to alternatives. But mainly it’s because new research continues to come out showing that vaping is far less harmful than smoking cigarettes.
Think about smokers for a second.
Once they learn they can still enjoy nicotine without smoking cigarettes, many will make the switch. Not only does vaping give smokers something that looks like cigarettes and feels like cigarettes (the act of puffing), but it also eliminates the combustion of tobacco that causes all the harm.
And when you remove combustion, you remove a lot of risk.
Traditional cigarettes burn tobacco and chemicals, which creates smoke that’s filled with thousands of toxic substances. Vapor cigarettes heat a liquid into vapor that you inhale instead. The biggest difference is vaping exposes you to far fewer hazardous compounds.
If you had a less harmful option to cigarettes, wouldn’t you make the switch?
The Research Shows Vaping is Less Risky Than Smoking
Let’s dig into the science behind vaping being a healthier alternative.
Public Health England found e-cigarettes were approximately 95% less harmful than traditional cigarettes. This doesn’t mean risk-free by any means. But when you compare vaping to smoking, the danger to your health goes way down.
The research doesn’t stop there, though.
In 2022 the UK government released an evidence update that showed biomarkers for cancer, respiratory disease, and cardiovascular issues were much lower in people who vape compared to those who continue to smoke.
There’s more…
While not every study will show dramatic differences, the consensus is clear among scientists. Smoking cigarettes is far more harmful to your health than vaping.
But here’s the kicker…
Most smokers don’t realize vaping is better for them. Only about 34% of smokers understood that vaping was less harmful than cigarettes in England. When most smokers don’t know vaping is healthier, fewer will make the switch.
How Switching to Vapor Helps Smokers Quit
Alright, here’s the real reason adults are switching to vaping.
Because it actually works.
A Cochrane review published in 2023 concluded that vaping was more effective than all other smoking cessation methods. Traditional quit methods only helped 1-5% of smokers quit long term. E-cigarettes helped up to twice as many smokers quit.
This is huge.
Quit aids like patches, gums, and lozenges have been used for years with very little improvement in success rates. Adults who use them are still more likely to pick up a pack of cigarettes rather than vape.
Vaping disrupts that pattern.
Why?
- Vaping mimics the physical act of holding a cigarette and puffing
- It creates a similar “hit” in the throat that smokers want
- Allows you to adjust nicotine levels to your preference
- Switching feels easier than most methods out there
When you have something that finally replicates cigarettes, smokers are more likely to take vaping seriously as a quitting method. Add in the reduced health risks and you have a winner.
Smokers finally have a tool that can help them quit.
Smoking Alternatives Are Booming
Did you know the vaping industry reached nearly $40 BILLION dollars in the US alone?
Demand is growing for adult smokers to find a better alternative. And that means more brands are coming out with higher quality vape devices every year.
People want options. Flavors, creative designs, and technology that fits their lifestyle. Brands that listen to smokers will win by catering to their preferences.
This is a big deal because…
Adults have spoken loudly and clearly that they’re not happy with smoking anymore. Buying alternatives online and in-person has never been easier. Everyone from lifelong smokers to recent quitters are exploring ways to eliminate cigarettes from their lives.
And that leads to an important point.
Don’t Smoke Or Vape, Quit Both
If you don’t smoke cigarettes, don’t start vaping.
Simple as that.
While vaping is less harmful than cigarettes, it’s not healthy either. Find ways to avoid both if you aren’t already smoking.
Plenty of people vape AND smoke cigarettes too. That’s counterproductive and leads to more nicotine consumption.
Here’s how quitting should look:
- Quit cigarettes first
- Use vaping as a stepping stone to quit nicotine altogether
- Throw the vaping products away when you’re done
Sure, vaping is better than cigarettes but it’s not a healthy alternative. Remember why you started vaping in the first place and use it as a tool to quit nicotine for good.
Here’s What You Should Know Before You Make The Switch
Switching to vaping is better for your health.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take certain precautions.
Keep these things in mind:
- Stay away from podMods and vape tricks that involve blowing huge vapor clouds
- Don’t smoke cigarettes and vape at the same time
- If you don’t smoke, don’t start vaping
- Consult your doctor if you’re currently trying to conceive, pregnant, or breastfeeding
Switching to vaping can greatly improve your health. As long as you understand the basics and don’t vape irresponsibly, you should be fine.
Want The Bottom Line?
If you’re a smoker and haven’t tried vaping yet to help quit, you’re missing out.
Switching completely to vaping from cigarettes is hands down the best thing you can do for your health as a smoker. The research proves it, the success rates continue to climb every year, and millions of adults are already vaping instead of smoking.
At the end of the day it all comes down to this:
If you want to improve your health and finally quit smoking cigarettes, vape.
Start today.
