Comparing Smoking Cessation
Methods: A Simple Guide
This article looks at the safety and effectiveness of different smoking cessation methods over the past 23 years, including nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), Champix (varenicline), traditional smoking, and vaping. Here’s a straightforward comparison:
To provide a UK-focused comparison of smoking cessation methods, including usage and associated risks, here’s a summary:
1. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) in the UK
- Nicotine Gums, Patches, Sprays, Lozenges:
- Fatalities: <0.01% of users
- Risk per 100,000: Less than 10 fatalities
- Total Estimated Fatalities Since 2001: <1,000
- Success Rate: ~15-20%
- Estimated Users per Year: Approximately 1.5-2 million (combined). NRTs are often prescribed by the NHS or purchased over the counter.
2. Champix (Varenicline) in the UK
- Fatalities: 0.01% – 0.1% of users
- Risk per 100,000: Between 10 and 100 fatalities
- Total Estimated Fatalities Since 2001: ~500-1,000
- Success Rate: ~30-40%
- Estimated Users per Year: Around 500,000. Champix has been prescribed by the NHS but faced temporary suspension due to concerns over impurities in the medication.
3. Smoking (Without Aid) in the UK
- Fatalities: ~1% of users
- Risk per 100,000: Approximately 1,000 fatalities
- Total Estimated Fatalities Since 2001: ~1.8 million deaths from smoking-related illnesses over the past two decades in the UK.
- Success Rate: ~5%
- Estimated Smokers per Year: Approximately 6.6 million adult smokers as of recent years, with many attempting to quit annually without any aid.
4. Vaping in the UK
- Fatalities: Very low (10-50 deaths in the UK over 23 years)
- Risk per 100,000: Approximately 0.05 to 0.25 fatalities
- Total Estimated Fatalities Since 2001: ~50
- Success Rate: ~20-30%
- Estimated Users per Year: Around 3.6 million vapers in the UK, many of whom use vaping as a means to quit smoking.
Summary
- Vaping is emerging as a safer alternative to traditional smoking in the UK, with a low fatality risk and a relatively higher success rate compared to NRTs.
- Champix offers a higher success rate but comes with a slightly higher risk of adverse effects. It was temporarily withdrawn from the market in the UK, but it was widely used prior to this.
- NRTs are the most widely used cessation aid in the UK due to their safety and availability, though their effectiveness is generally lower than that of vaping or Champix.
- Smoking remains the most hazardous with a high mortality rate and low cessation success without assistance.
This analysis highlights vaping and Champix as effective alternatives for smoking cessation in the UK, with NRTs remaining a safer but less effective option.
For more detailed information on each method, you can refer to:
