E-cigarettes recognized as smoking cessation tool in US guidelines

Medical guidelines published in JAMA, signed by 24 physicians and scientists, now define e-cigarettes as a tool for smoking cessation in the United States. This positioning places electronic nicotine delivery systems alongside traditional nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches, gums, and sprays.

In the United Kingdom, statistical data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates a significant shift in nicotine consumption habits. For the second consecutive year, the number of adults using e-cigarettes has surpassed the number of traditional smokers. In 2025, approximately 5.4 million people (9.9% of the population) used e-cigarettes, while the number of traditional smokers fell to roughly 4.8 million (8.7% of the population).

The trend shows e-cigarette use is most prevalent among the 25 to 34 age demographic, where usage stands at 16.4%. Meanwhile, traditional smoking rates in the UK have seen a steady decline from 20.2% in 2011 to current levels.