Vaping and Smoking: New Data Reveals Many users Don’t Quit Tobacco
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A recent report indicates that nearly half of daily vapers in France continue to smoke conventional cigarettes, challenging the perception of e-cigarettes as a definitive path to smoking cessation.
For over a decade, electronic cigarettes have gained traction in France as an alternative to tobacco, promising reduced smoke, no combustion, and fewer toxins. Tho, the latest data suggests a more complex reality. According to the France 2024 Public Health Barometer, published in late 2025, a significant 47.7% of daily vapers also report current tobacco use.
electronic Cigarettes and tobacco: A Combined Habit
In France, approximately 6.1% of adults vape daily, wiht nearly 8% engaging in regular or occasional vaping. Strikingly, the vast majority – almost 98% – of vapers have a history of tobacco use, with less than 3% having never smoked a cigarette before taking up vaping. This demonstrates that vaping is rarely a standalone habit, but rather frequently occurs alongside a pre-existing smoking history.
This phenomenon, known as dual use, is particularly concerning as it doesn’t negate the inherent toxicity of tobacco.
Smoking extends beyond nicotine; itS deeply ingrained in ritual, gesture, and social interaction. Many vapers report continuing to smoke in specific situations – evenings, social gatherings, or designated breaks.
“In these moments, the classic cigarette retains a special place, almost an identity, that vaping sometimes struggles to replace,” a researcher explained. Vaping often fails to replicate the symbolic or social functions of traditional cigarettes, leading it to become a complement rather than a complete substitute.
A Misunderstood Perception of Risk
Many users acknowledge that vaping is less harmful than smoking, but this understanding can lead to a dangerous compromise. Alternating between vaping and cigarettes is sometimes viewed as an acceptable middle ground, a way to mitigate risk without fully abandoning tobacco. However, health authorities caution against this approach.
According to Public Health France, combining vaping and smoking doesn’t neutralize the harmful effects of cigarettes, even when consumption is reduced. While reducing cigarette numbers is preferable to heavy smoking, the cardiovascular and cancer risks associated with tobacco persist as long as exposure continues.
Smoking Cessation: What Do Experts Recommend?
It’s crucial to understand that the electronic cigarette is not a medically approved treatment for smoking cessation. Unlike nicotine replacement therapies – such as patches, gums, and lozenges – e-cigarettes haven’t undergone rigorous testing to evaluate their effectiveness and safety.
However, they can be a helpful tool for some smokers, particularly those who have struggled with traditional methods. It’s crucial to emphasize that e-cigarettes do not guarantee quitting. Their effectiveness varies significantly depending on individual circumstances, support systems, and motivation. without adequate support, the risk of dual use remains high, limiting the potential health benefits. Both the High Authority for Health and Public Health France emphasize that vaping can be a component of a broader cessation strategy, but it’s rarely sufficient on its own.
A Fragile Decline in Smoking Rates
Daily smoking in France is decreasing. In 2023, 23.1% of adults reported daily smoking, down from over 30% in the early 2000s. This progress is attributable to public policies, increased tobacco prices, prevention campaigns, and growing health awareness.Despite this undeniable improvement, the goal of a tobacco-free generation remains distant.
Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in France, responsible for approximately 75,000 deaths annually. moreover, this decline in smoking is fragile, disproportionately affecting certain populations, and sometimes plateauing among the moast vulnerable groups where smoking remains deeply entrenched.
NAMELY
In France, nicotine replacement therapies (patches, gums, lozenges, and inhalers) are reimbursed at 65% by Health Insurance, with or without a prescription, as part of smoking cessation programs.
The data underscores the need for comprehensive smoking cessation strategies that address both the physiological and behavioral aspects of addiction, moving beyond the simplistic notion that vaping alone offers a guaranteed escape from tobacco.
