A surprising trend has emerged among e-cigarette users, with some turning to traditional smoking as a means to quit vaping. This approach has raised concerns among health experts, who warn that it may cause significant harm. According to Shawn Moore, a road maintenance supervisor in Utah, he switched to traditional smoking last year to quit vaping, citing the difficulties of vaping, such as having to wear heavy clothing and shoes to go outside in the cold.
Research suggests that this trend may be driven by misconceptions about the relative risks of e-cigarettes and traditional smoking. While e-cigarettes are considered a less harmful alternative, some users believe that they are just as harmful or even more so. A survey conducted in 2025 found that three-quarters of English smokers believe that e-cigarettes are just as harmful as or more harmful than traditional smoking. This misconception has led some users to seek alternative methods to quit vaping.
Health experts strongly advise against switching to traditional smoking as a means to quit vaping. According to Elias Klemperer, a professor at the University of Vermont specializing in addiction studies, "anyone who tries to quit e-cigarettes by switching to traditional cigarettes is doing themselves a great deal of harm." Klemperer emphasizes that e-cigarettes are considered a less harmful product, and switching to traditional cigarettes would be a step backward.
Data from a survey conducted in the UK suggests that this trend is on the rise. The survey, which involved over 13,000 adults, found that traditional smoking was the second most common method used to quit e-cigarettes, after nicotine replacement therapy. Approximately one-fifth of e-cigarette users who tried to quit used traditional smoking as a method.
Another survey conducted in New Zealand found similar results. The survey, conducted by the advocacy group "Action for Smoke-Free 2025," found that 14% of respondents who started e-cigarettes to quit traditional smoking switched back to traditional cigarettes when they wanted to quit e-cigarettes. This trend has raised concerns among health experts, who worry that it may undermine efforts to reduce harm.
The risks associated with traditional smoking are well-documented. Traditional cigarettes contain tar, arsenic, and other chemicals that can cause serious health problems. In contrast, e-cigarettes do not involve combustion and are considered a less harmful alternative. However, e-cigarettes are not without risks, and health experts emphasize the need for evidence-based approaches to quit vaping.
As the trend of e-cigarette users turning to traditional smoking continues to grow, health experts are urging caution. They emphasize the need for accurate information and evidence-based approaches to quit vaping. Users are advised to seek professional help and consider nicotine replacement therapy or other evidence-based methods to quit e-cigarettes.
Key points
- Some e-cigarette users are turning to traditional smoking to quit vaping, despite health experts' warnings that this approach may cause significant harm.
- Misconceptions about the relative risks of e-cigarettes and traditional smoking may be driving this trend.
- Health experts advise against switching to traditional smoking as a means to quit vaping, and instead recommend evidence-based approaches.
