Clearing the air: methods and challenges of smoking and vaping cessation

Abstract

South Africa has a particularly high prevalence of smoking compared to the rest of the world. In spite of the fact that smoking rates in South Africa have been declining since the implementation of tobacco control measures in 1993, there are still an estimated eight million smokers in the country. Smoking has been associated with detrimental health risks and related complications for decades, and such health issues are further compounded by the high incidence of tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome in the population. Vaping has been offered as an alternative for smoking. This article aims to provide an overview of the importance of smoking cessation, and the nonpharmacological and pharmacological measures aimed at ensuring quitting.

The vaping trend is fueled by the assumption that these products are safer and less harmful than traditional tobacco smoking. The rapid growth of the vaping industry has prompted debates on whether vaping functions as a smoking cessation aid or a gateway for new smokers. The evidence regarding vaping's efficacy in aiding smoking cessation is inconsistent, but there is compelling data suggesting a correlation between vaping and an increase in the number of smokers, particularly among the youth. Notwithstanding the well-established research on the greater harm of tobacco, early studies have already indicated the adverse effects of vaping. Despite the lack of comprehensive health studies, the expanding popularity of electronic cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems such as vapes, especially among the younger demographic, has soared.