Can vapes help you quit smoking? Can smokers switch to vapes to reduce harm? It has always been the focus of attention and controversy in the vapes industry from all walks of life. The World Health Organization (WHO) has long given answers to these debates in the report on vapes released in 2020: there is solid evidence that switching from cigarettes to vapes can reduce harm.

The WHO cited an assessment of vapes by the National Academy of Engineering and Medicine (hereinafter referred to as NASEM) in the report. Among them, there is solid evidence: "Complete use of electronic cigarettes instead of cigarettes can reduce users' exposure to a variety of toxicants and carcinogens produced by cigarette combustion." There is substantial evidence that: “Vape use can lead to nicotine dependence, but it is less dependent than cigarettes; vape smoke may increase the risk of some diseases in the long-term, but the risk is lower than that of cigarettes; switching from cigarettes to vapes can improve the health of many Organ health."

The WHO specifically pointed out that the latest research shows that the simultaneous use of cigarettes and vapes can lead to higher levels of oxidative stress and increase the risk of cardiorespiratory health, so dual use is not recommended.

The report concluded that WHO, NASEM, and CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) have all realized the potential of vapes to improve the public health environment. At the same time, the WHO also made some recommendations for countries planning to regulate vapes in the report: including requiring vape companies to regulate sales channels (including online sales), strictly enforce laws on the minimum age of purchase; Health risks of vape users; it is forbidden to add carcinogens, mutagens and other harmful substances.

Take the UK, for example, which has been pursuing a smoke-free plan: phasing out combustible cigarettes by 2030, allowing smokers to quit smoking entirely or switch to lower-risk nicotine delivery systems such as vapes. Although the smoking rate of the Chinese population is currently on a downward trend, it still remains at a high level.

Ma Liang, a researcher at the National Institute of Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China, once commented that the absolute harmlessness brought by smoke-free is the best choice, but in the case that harmlessness cannot be achieved in the short term, it is better to advocate a short-term It is difficult to achieve the ideal of smoke-free, it is better to start from the reduction of smoke and harm in reality, and promote smokers to reduce the health hazards caused by smoking and second-hand smoke exposure through smoking replacement and smoking reduction.