Quick Summary

• Smoking cessation: Good evidence shows that nicotine e-cigarettes help more smokers quit than traditional nicotine replacement therapies.
• Risk: Vaping is considered likely far less harmful than smoking – but clearly not harmless and with unanswered long-term questions.
• Youth: International organisations warn about rapidly rising use among adolescents.
• Switzerland: Smoking rates are slowly declining; vaping is common. Experts see potential for smokers but warn strongly regarding youth.

Important: If you do not smoke, you should not start vaping. E-cigarettes are intended solely for adult smokers (in Switzerland: 18+).

Why do studies on e-cigarettes seem contradictory?

Search results range from “95% less harmful” to “major health risks”. Reasons include:

• Different research questions:
  • Do e-cigarettes help with quitting?
  • How harmful is vapour compared to tobacco smoke?
  • What happens at population level (especially youth)?
• Products evolve quickly – studies from 2014 analysed different devices than those in 2024.
• Long-term data over decades is not yet available.

It is therefore useful to consider study types separately.

1. Studies on smoking cessation effectiveness

1.1 Cochrane Reviews: The gold standard

Cochrane regularly evaluates all high-quality studies on e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. Key conclusions include:

• Nicotine e-cigarettes help more smokers quit than:
  • nicotine replacement therapies,
  • nicotine-free e-cigarettes,
  • or no support at all.
• Long-term abstinence:
  • about 14 out of 100 smokers with e-cigarettes,
  • vs. about 6 out of 100 without effective aids.

1.2 What does this mean for you?

If you smoke heavily and have tried quitting several times, e-cigarettes may be one of the most effective tools — provided you fully switch and stop smoking entirely.

2. Studies on health risks and emissions

2.1 National Academies (USA): “Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes”

The influential NASEM report concludes:

• High confidence: E-cigarettes emit far fewer and lower levels of toxic substances than cigarettes.
• Moderate confidence: They can cause short-term cardiovascular and respiratory effects.
• Unknown: Long-term risks such as cancer remain uncertain.

2.2 UK Reviews (Public Health England & Royal College of Physicians)

• Vaping is likely far less harmful than smoking because:
  • there is no combustion,
  • far fewer combustion by-products are formed.
• Still:
  • vapers are exposed to nicotine, particles and chemicals,
  • not recommended for non-smokers or youth.

2.3 How to evaluate this?

If you would otherwise continue smoking, switching completely to vaping is likely significantly less harmful.

If you do not smoke: vaping introduces unnecessary risks and possible nicotine addiction.

3. Studies on youth use and public health

3.1 WHO and global trends

• Over 100 million users worldwide, including at least 15 million adolescents.
• Youths vape far more frequently than adults in many countries.
• Risk of creating a new wave of nicotine addiction.

3.2 Why this matters

For adult smokers, vaping can be a quitting tool.

For adolescents and non-smokers, it is a public health issue.

4. Studies and data in Switzerland

4.1 Swiss consumption data

Official surveys show that around one quarter of the Swiss population aged 15+ smoked in 2022, with a slight downward trend.

4.2 Swiss expert assessments

• E-cigarettes vary widely in nicotine delivery and emissions.
• They may support harm reduction for adult smokers.
• Concerns focus on youth uptake, easy availability and addiction risks.

4.3 Legal framework (simplified)

• Sale and promotion only for adults 18+.
• Website promotion is generally allowed, but youth protection and cantonal rules apply.

5. What does this mean for you?

If you currently smoke

• Switching fully to vaping may significantly reduce your health risks.
• E-cigarettes increase quit success rates in studies.

1. Completely switch from smoking to vaping.
2. Gradually reduce nicotine strength.
3. Ideally become nicotine-free long-term.

If you do not smoke

There is no reason to start vaping: it brings addiction risk and no benefit.

6. Overview of key studies

7. FAQ

Are e-cigarettes “95% less harmful”?

This early UK estimate is not a precise number. Current consensus: far less harmful than smoking, but not risk-free.

Do e-cigarettes really help you quit?

Yes. Studies consistently show higher quit success rates with nicotine e-cigarettes.

How dangerous is nicotine salt?

It allows smoother, faster nicotine delivery. Pleasant for heavy smokers, but increases addiction risk for inexperienced users.

Is vaping less harmful for teenagers?

No. Experts warn clearly against youth vaping due to addiction and unknown long-term effects.

Which position is “right” – pro or contra?

• Adult smokers: potentially useful for harm reduction.
• Non-smokers / youth: unnecessary health and addiction risk.

8. Conclusion

The healthiest option is always: don’t smoke, don’t vape.

But if you currently smoke, fully switching to vaping can likely reduce your health risks.

The Author

Jürgen has been involved with everything related to vaping for many years. He has always been particularly interested in the latest studies on the topic. Here he summarises these studies and presents the situation objectively and accurately, without glorifying or demonising e-cigarettes – simply neutral and based on current knowledge.

Note: E-cigarettes are for adults 18+ only in Switzerland.