Over half of smokers who switch to vaping go back to cigarettes, study shows

FORMER smokers who switch to e-cigs are more likely to relapse inside 12 months than those who completely kick nicotine, research shows.

Public Health England promotes vaping as an anti-smoking tool.

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A study tracking 13,604 smokers using 12 tobacco products from 2013 to 2015 found that, of those able to quit completely, 50 per cent were still off cigarettes a year or more later.

But of ex-smokers who moved to e-cigs or other cessation aides, only 41.5 per cent managed not to return to the fags.

Prof John Pierce, from the University of California, said: “Quitting is the most important thing a smoker can do to improve health.

“But our findings indicate switching to e-cigarettes made it less likely, not more likely, to stay off of cigarettes.”

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