Vaping through electronic cigarette has been recommended as a possible aid for smokers looking to quit cigarettes but doctors say caution is still needed.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners guidelines has been updated with new advice to replace a smoker’s reliance on nicotine and calls for new subsidies.
Doctors advised that while there was no official standard for what goes into e-cigarettes, vaping involves fewer toxic chemicals and carcinogens than cigarettes.
Researchers said e-cigarettes could therefore be used as a second line of defence for those looking to quit smoking. Nicholas Zwar, who chairs the guide’s advisory group, said the lack of tested and approved e-cigarettes meant there were other alternatives preferred for countering smoking.
Those alternatives include using nicotine gums and patches – accompanied by behavioural support from a patient’s doctor.