It seems like it’s every other day that new evidence arrives of vaping’s ability to help smokers kick their habit. Just last month, a Belgian study saw people reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke by an astounding 60%. Now, Cancer Research UK reports of a comprehensive study by The Cochrane Collaboration, a not-for-profit organisation focusing on medical research, which found that e-cigarettes helped smokers quit or cut down on smoking.

The 57-page review analysed 68 research papers, before taking a deeper look at two randomised trials. One important finding was that e-cigarettes were more successful than nicotine patches or, of course, a placebo, at helping smokers quit (7.3% vs. 5.8% and 4.1%, respectively). E-cigarettes were also significantly more effective than nicotine patches at reducing cigarette intake by half (61% vs. 44%), while having no adverse effects other than possible throat irritation – a side effect of nicotine.

Nicola Smith, Cancer Research UK’s senior health information officer, went on to say: “We recognise the potential that e-cigarettes may have for lowering smoking rates and there’s a consensus that e-cigarettes are almost certainly far safer than smoking.”

With this potential in mind, Cancer Research UK is funding further research on the safety, effectiveness and impact of electronic cigarettes.

Seeing the world’s largest independent cancer research charity acknowledge electronic cigarettes in a positive light is almost as important as the study itself. Such validation goes a long way to legitimise the benefits we have talked about for some time here in our blog.

We all have our reasons for wanting to quit smoking – the cost, family, the unpleasant smell, or our doctor’s advice – but sometimes it’s easy to forget the impact of smoking on our collective health. The ascendance of healthier alternatives like vaping will one day curb a whole array of preventable diseases and deaths. Isn’t that a worthy incentive to pop into one of our stores?