Vaping and quitting smoking

A number of Canadians are trying to quit smoking by vaping nicotine, and have said it has helped.^{Footnote 1} While the science is evolving, evidence suggests that vaping nicotine (using e-cigarettes), can help adults quit smoking.^{Footnote 2}

If you've tried approved methods to quit and are still smoking, switching completely to vaping nicotine is less harmful than continuing to smoke. Youth and people who don't smoke, shouldn't vape. Learn about the differences between cigarettes and vaping products and why it matters in the context of quitting smoking.

Note: The term "vaping" is also used to refer to the inhalation of cannabis aerosols, which differs from the products described on this page.

Learn about cannabis (marijuana), its uses and forms.

On this page

• You have options
• Cigarettes versus vaping products
• Can vaping help you quit smoking?
• Support to quit smoking

You have options

If you've struggled to quit smoking, you're not alone. For most, quitting smoking usually requires many tries before finding the way that works for them. The good news is that there are many ways to quit smoking, and you don't have to do it alone. Consulting a quit coach, your doctor, or a pharmacist can help you consider your options and use quit aids most effectively, should you choose them.

Learn more about the best ways to quit smoking at How to Quit.

If you've already tried Health Canada approved methods to quit (e.g., approved nicotine replacement therapies) and are still smoking cigarettes, vaping could help you quit smoking. Switching completely to vaping means stopping smoking all cigarettes, which will reduce the risks of harms to your health.

Cigarettes versus vaping products

Though vaping products are relatively new and research into their long-term effects is ongoing, researchers have already established that switching completely to vaping nicotine is less harmful than continuing to smoke. ^{Footnote 3}

The best available evidence indicates that adults who smoke, who then switch completely to vaping:

• Immediately reduce their exposure to the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke; ^{Footnote 4}
• See general health improvements in the short term as a result of no longer smoking cigarettes; ^{Footnote 5}
• May be more likely to quit smoking than those who use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or counseling to quit; ^{Footnote 6}
• Do not currently report serious unwanted effects while using vaping products to quit; ^{Footnote 7} and,
• May have a higher startup cost but save money in the long run (cost per equivalent puff).^{Footnote 8}

Find out how much smoking costs you with our cost calculator.

Similarities

In Canada, cigarettes and most vaping products contain nicotine – the chemical responsible for both cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Vaping involves inhalation through hand-to-mouth action (like smoking) and helps you retain the same ritual while using a less harmful product, which could make switching a little easier. Despite these similarities, there are also some major differences between cigarettes and vaping products.

Differences

Vaping aerosol is significantly different than tobacco smoke. Vaping products produce only a small fraction of the 7000+ chemicals found in tobacco smoke, as well as lower levels of the potentially harmful ones. Unlike cigarettes, vaping products do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, among many other chemicals.^{Footnote 9} While there are risks associated with nicotine, such as addiction and/or physical dependence, nicotine itself is not known to cause cancer.^{Footnote 10} In contrast, cigarette smoke contains many disease-causing chemicals, including many that cause cancer, as well as heart and lung diseases.

No matter how you get there, quitting smoking will improve your health in ways you will see and feel, both now and later. While quitting all nicotine products is best, prioritizing becoming smoke-free can significantly reduce risks to your health.

Learn about the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke.

Can vaping help you quit smoking?

Quit aids that are approved for therapeutic use or as natural health products under the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) include:

• Nicotine replacement therapies (patch, gum, inhaler, lozenge, etc.)
• prescription medications, and
• natural health products like cytisine.

To date, vaping products have not been approved in Canada under the FDA, which means these products are not available by prescription from your health care provider and industry is not allowed to make any health claims, such as their ability to help people quit smoking.

Adults have legal access by purchasing vaping products, as consumer products. A number of Canadians report that vaping nicotine helped them quit smoking^{Footnote 11} and studies suggest that vaping nicotine may help a greater proportion of people quit smoking than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or counselling alone. ^{Footnote 12}

Learn more about vaping product regulations.

Support and advice to quit smoking

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or a quit coach to support your journey towards a smoke-free or nicotine-free life. Speaking to a health provider is particularly important for people who are pregnant or nursing.