Vaping and quitting smoking

If you've tried approved methods to quit and are still smoking, switching completely to vaping nicotine is less harmful than continuing to smoke.^{Footnote 1} Youth and adults 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.

On this page

• There's more than one way to quit
• Cigarettes versus vaping products
• Continuing to smoke while vaping (dual use)
• Support to quit smoking

There's more than one way to quit

A number of Canadians are trying to quit smoking by vaping nicotine, and have said it has helped.^{Footnote 2} While the science is evolving, evidence suggests that vaping nicotine (using e-cigarettes), may help more adults quit smoking than using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or behavioural support only.^{Footnote 3} People who switched completely to vaping did not report a higher number of side effects compared to those who used NRT.^{Footnote 3}

Unlike nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), vaping products haven't been approved in Canada under the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) as a quit smoking aid. This means:

• vaping products aren't available by prescription from your health care provider
• industry isn't allowed to make any health claims about vaping products, such as their ability to help people quit smoking

However, adults have legal access to vaping products as consumer products. Youth and adults who don't smoke, shouldn't vape.

Switching completely to vaping means stopping smoking all cigarettes, which will reduce the risks of harms to your health. Quitting vaping will further reduce the risks to your health.

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

Cigarettes versus vaping products

Though vaping products are relatively new and research into their long-term effects is ongoing, the best available evidence indicates that adults who smoke and then switch completely to vaping:

• are exposed to fewer harmful chemicals and to significantly lower levels of toxicants^{Footnote 1}
• see general health improvements in the short term as a result of no longer smoking cigarettes ^{Footnote 1}
• experience some initial side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough and nausea, which tend to disappear with continued e-cigarette use^{Footnote 4}
• may pay a higher startup cost but save money in the long run^{Footnote 5}

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

Similarities between cigarettes and vaping products

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) which retains the same ritual while reducing health risks. Continuing this ritual temporarily could make quitting smoking a little easier.

Differences between cigarettes and vaping products

Vaping aerosol isn't harmless, but it is not the same as tobacco smoke. Tobacco smoke contains over 7000+ chemicals, many of which are harmful and known to cause cancer, as well as heart and lung diseases. Vaping products produce only a small fraction of these chemicals, as well as lower levels of the potentially harmful ones. They don't produce tar or carbon monoxide. While nicotine can lead to physical dependence and addiction, it is not known to cause cancer^{Footnote 6}, respiratory or vascular disease.^{Footnote 7}

Learn about the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke.

Support and advice to quit smoking and vaping

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 youth and people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or chestfeeding.

For more information

• Centre for Addictions and Mental Health: Lower-Risk Nicotine Use Guidelines
• Tools for a smoke-free life has more resources for quitting smoking, including videos and an online quit planner tool
• Tobacco Smoking in Adults Guideline

Footnotes