E Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes are commonly marketed as a safer alternative to smoking or an aid for smoking cessation. Overall, it is thought that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, but there is a lack of evidence about the safety of them, especially in the long-term.

There is evidence that from two randomised control trials that electronic cigarettes help smokers to stop smoking.
However, the small number of trials means our confidence in the result is still low.

• E-cigarettes are not approved by Pharmac but are available for purchase online.
• There is not enough evidence to recommend e-cigarettes to patients or discourage the use of them as a substitute for smoking.
• Regulated NRT should be recommended as a first-line smoking cessation aid.
• Don't discourage e-cigarette use in people keen to use them; especially those who have tried and failed to stop with medications.

• American Cancer Society Statement on E-Cigarettes Feb 2018
• The Cochrane Collaboration Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation and reduction Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Electronic Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems(ENDS/ENNDS): WHO Report
• Cigarettes: Information for Health Care workers
• Nicotine without smoke Tobacco harm reduction
• Electronic Cigarettes: A briefing for stop smoking services
• Symposium Electronic Cigarette: Opportunity or Threat
• Safety Evaluation and Risk Assessment of Electronic Cigarettes as Tobacco Cigarette Substitutes: A Systematic Review
• CDC campaign to educate e-cigarette users about the dangers of dual use of e-cigs and cigs
• Ministry of Health information on e cigarettes
• The e-cigarette Quandary: a comprehensive article on e-cigarettes
• Peering through the Mist: Systematic review of what the chemistry of contaminants in electronic cigarettes tell use about health risk