Experts Debate: Can E-Cigarettes Help Quit Smoking and Reduce Lung Cancer Risk?

Aug.15.2022
The debate over whether e-cigarettes can help smokers quit and reduce the risk of lung cancer continues among experts.

As it is widely known, smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers. However, quitting smoking is a difficult task. Due to the addictive nature of smoking, 52-63% of lung cancer patients continue to smoke even after being diagnosed.


There is controversy within the medical community about whether or not vaping can reduce the risk of lung cancer by inducing smoking cessation.


On the 8th of this month, the World Lung Cancer Association held a heated debate on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes in helping smokers quit. Lung cancer clinical physician Matthew Avison, who has treated hundreds of lung cancer patients in clinical trials, stated that "hundreds of chemicals will enter the body during the process of smoking tobacco. Patients struggling to quit smoking need an alternative." He believes that "a principle of not burning tobacco but vaporizing liquid makes it easy to understand that e-cigarettes are less harmful." Avison continued by referencing a study that found e-cigarette users who switched from traditional smoking had quit smoking for at least 6 months. He believes that this should be seriously considered as an alternative method for smoking cessation.


However, there are also opposing views. Emily Stone, a professor at St Vincent Hospital in Sydney, expressed in a discussion on the same day, "The effect of e-cigarettes on smoking cessation varies depending on the research methods. The fact is," she said. Professor Stone stated, "E-cigarettes contain fewer toxic substances than tobacco cigarettes, but the risk is at an uncertain level.


Statement:


This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended for industry communication and learning purposes only.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the authenticity or accuracy of the content. The compilation of this article is only intended for internal industry communication and research.


Due to limitations in the level of translation, this article may not fully convey the same meaning as the original text. Please refer to the original text for accuracy.


2FIRSTS aligns completely with the Chinese government on any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign-related statements and positions.


The copyright of compiled information belongs to the original media and author(s). If there is any infringement, please contact us for removal.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

Alan Zhao: What Altria’s on! PLUS Authorization Really Signals About FDA PMTA Enforcement
Alan Zhao: What Altria’s on! PLUS Authorization Really Signals About FDA PMTA Enforcement
In this in-depth commentary for 2Firsts, Alan Zhao examines what Altria’s on! PLUS authorization really signals about FDA PMTA enforcement. Beyond the headline approval, FDA’s language, process design and product choices offer rare insight into how nicotine pouch regulation is taking shape—and what it means for industry compliance, in one of the earliest expert reads of the decision.
Regulations
Dec.20 by 2Firsts Perspectives
U.S. FDA Unveils Next-Generation Agentic AI Tool to Boost Review and Regulatory Efficiency
U.S. FDA Unveils Next-Generation Agentic AI Tool to Boost Review and Regulatory Efficiency
The U.S. FDA has announced the agency-wide deployment of new agentic AI capabilities, providing all employees with an optional multi-step task automation tool. Building on the broad adoption of its earlier large-language-model system, Elsa, the FDA aims to use this next-generation AI workflow to accelerate product review, regulatory oversight, and internal operations, while maintaining strict human supervision and data security.
Dec.02 by 2FIRSTS.ai
 Number of Vapers in Britain Surpasses Smokers for the First Time, Government Tightens Nicotine Regulations
Number of Vapers in Britain Surpasses Smokers for the First Time, Government Tightens Nicotine Regulations
For the first time, more people in Britain now vape than smoke. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 10% of adults (5.4 million) regularly use e-cigarettes compared with 9.1% (4.9 million) who smoke cigarettes. The government credits vaping for the decline in smoking but plans tougher rules through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, including a generational smoking ban and restrictions on nicotine pouch flavours, packaging, and sales.
Nov.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Pakistan Speeds Up Local Nicotine Pouch Production as PMI Unit Prepares to Launch ZYN
Pakistan Speeds Up Local Nicotine Pouch Production as PMI Unit Prepares to Launch ZYN
Pakistan’s smokeless, tobacco-free nicotine pouch market has expanded rapidly in recent years, prompting major tobacco companies to accelerate local investments, with Philip Morris Pakistan Ltd. (PMPKL) set to produce ZYN at its Sahiwal facility.
Dec.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Thailand National Health Commission Advances Vape Regulation Aligned with Anti-Drug Agenda
Thailand National Health Commission Advances Vape Regulation Aligned with Anti-Drug Agenda
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Saram, who chairs the National Health Commission (NHC), presided over a meeting aligning the nation’s e-cigarette control policies with the government’s “Quick Big Win” anti-drug strategy. The session reviewed progress under the National Health Assembly Resolution on Protecting Children and Youth from E-Cigarettes, which includes five key measures on awareness, enforcement, and prevention.
Nov.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Alan Zhao: China’s High-Level Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco and Vaping Will Reshape the Global Market
Alan Zhao: China’s High-Level Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco and Vaping Will Reshape the Global Market
Alan Zhao wrote an article interpreting China's highest-level law enforcement action against illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes. He believes that this is not only an upgrade of domestic governance but will also have a profound impact on the global new tobacco supply chain and market pattern.
Dec.19 by 2Firsts Perspectives