Learning from England, Vape Sukses Helps Press the Number of Smokers

JAKARTA - Alternative tobacco products, especially electronic cigarettes (vapes), are the choice for adult smokers in the UK who want to increase the chances of success in switching from smoking habits. This is evidenced in the scientific journal JAMA Network entitled Prevalence of Popular Smoking Cessation Aids in England and Associations With Quit Success (2025).

The research revealed a new fact that vaping is the most commonly used switching aid for adult smokers in the UK in the 2023-2024 period, with a usage rate of around 40 percent.

The research, led by Principal Research Fellow in the UCL Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group, Sarah E. Jackson, suggests that using a more effective method can increase a person's success in switching from smoking.

"Efforts to switch from smoking habits with the help of vape have a success rate of more than 3 times higher than other methods," he said, quoted Tuesday, June 16.

Professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Padjadjaran (Unpad), Prof. Dr. drg. Amaliya, M.Sc., Ph.D. assessed the development of the use of alternative tobacco products as a tool to help switch from smoking habits in England is interesting if viewed from the perspective of scientific breakthroughs to reduce the dangers of tobacco.

According to him, this approach is positioned as a harm reduction strategy that aims to help adult smokers who have difficulty quitting smoking to switch to products with a lower risk profile.

"The development of the use of e-cigarettes as a tool to switch from smoking habits in the UK is one of the most prominent case studies globally in using innovation to reduce tobacco harm. This approach is seen as a proactive harm reduction and supported by scientific data on its effectiveness in helping adult smokers switch," said Amaliya.

He explained that a number of factors make alternative tobacco products considered more effective than nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine replacement therapy or NRT) for some consumers. The device is considered capable of mimicking aspects of smoking behavior, ranging from hand movements to the mouth to certain sensations that are not found in therapies such as chewing or nicotine candy.

In addition, e-cigarettes also allow users to regulate nicotine intake gradually so that it is considered to help reduce the urge to return to smoking. Device variations are also said to increase user compliance in the switching process, especially for adult smokers with high levels of dependence.

On the other hand, Amaliya emphasized that alternative tobacco products are not completely risk-free. However, the fundamental difference between vaping and cigarettes is the absence of a combustion process. Vaping implements a heating system and the result of its use is vapor (aerosol), while cigarettes implement combustion so as to produce smoke containing TAR and carbon monoxide, two harmful compounds associated with various diseases due to smoking.

In her research related to oral health and gingivitis, Amaliya saw a difference in oral cavity conditions between smokers and users of alternative tobacco products. He said smokers were more prone to gum problems, tooth discoloration, and plaque buildup due to exposure to combustion smoke and TAR.

"Adult smokers who switch to alternative products show a tendency for better gum health compared to smokers. However, the public still needs to understand that alternative products are not risk-free and their use must be accompanied by proper education," he said.

With the fact that it is proven that e-cigarettes implement harm reduction, Amaliya added the importance of education so that this health-risk-low product can be widely used in Indonesia as an aid for adult smokers who want to switch from smoking habits.

The education needs to emphasize that alternative products are intended for adult smokers, not non-smokers, adolescents, or pregnant women to prevent abuse. However, Amaliya emphasized that the best standard for health is to completely stop using tobacco and nicotine products.

"The research and policy approaches regarding alternative tobacco products need to be based on objective and transparent scientific evidence. Long-term clinical studies, the involvement of independent academics, and risk-profile-based regulation are needed so that the public can get complete and non-misleading information about alternative tobacco products," he said. *