- Smokers who previously failed to quit cigarettes were more likely to successfully quit vaping
- People who perceived vaping to be more harmful than smoking were more likely to try quitting
- Dual users – those who vape and smoke – were less likely to quit vaping
- Nearly half of vapers (46.1%) had attempted to quit vaping in the previous year
Vaping may be easier to quit than smoking, according to new research from Vietnam.
The study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, examined how often – and why – people who vape attempt to quit in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Using data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in 2020 (before vapes were banned in Vietnam this year), it found that almost half (46.1 per cent) of all vapers had tried to quit in the previous 12 months.
This included 50 per cent of exclusive vapers and 41.8 per cent of dual users. The study noted these rates are higher than those seen in Western countries, which are closer to 15 per cent.
Researchers found that smokers who had previously failed to quit cigarettes were more likely to successfully stop vaping.
It said: “Notably, smokers who had previously been unsuccessful in quitting cigarette smoking using e-cigarettes had a higher likelihood of quitting e-cigarettes.”
However, if vapes were being used as an alternative to cigarettes when smoking wasn’t possible, quit attempts were less likely. “Conversely, using e-cigarettes as an alternative tobacco product when unable to smoke cigarettes was associated with a lower likelihood of attempting to quit e-cigarettes,” the study said.
Misconceptions over harm drives quit attempts
The most common reasons for wanting to quit vapes were perceiving them as more harmful than combustible cigarettes, their cost, and friends or family members disapproving of vaping.
Researchers noted that the widespread misconception that vapes are more harmful than cigarettes was likely caused by government messaging.
The study said: “In Vietnam, recent media coverage, including newsletters from the Ministry of Health and national television broadcasts, have highlighted the adverse effects of using e-cigarettes and emphasised that they are not free from hazards, posing risks such as nicotine addiction, respiratory injury, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and other tobacco-related illnesses.
“Furthermore, the Ministry of Health in Vietnam does not recognise e-cigarettes as less harmful products with low health risks and has proposed a ban on all emerging tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. These factors may contribute to increased perceptions of harm among e-cigarette users and potentially lead to a higher prevalence of vaping quit attempts than Western populations.”
Vapes more expensive than cigarettes
The study said that in LMICs, vapes are significantly more expensive than cigarettes, making cost a major factor in quit attempts. It said a vape costs around VND 100,000 to 300,000, equivalent to €3.86 to €11.70, while a packet of cigarettes is around VND 11,800, equivalent to just € 0.5.
“Vaping cessation attempts were highly prevalent among Vietnamese e-cigarette users, the study concluded. “We found that the perceived harm of e-cigarettes and the high cost of e-cigarettes were strong motivators for users to quit vaping.
“Additionally, unsuccessful smoking cessation attempts using e-cigarettes were associated with a higher likelihood of quitting vaping. These findings highlight the importance of harm perception, affordability, and the need for tailored interventions to support individuals in their efforts to quit vaping.”
Vietnam’s blanket ban on vapes
On January 1, Vietnam implemented a blanket ban on all vapes with hefty fines and jail time for offenders. The new legislation prohibits the production, sale, import, storage, transportation and usage of vapes with the aim of ‘protecting people’s health’.
Anyone caught vaping or bringing vapes into the country, including tourists, will be fined up to two million Vietnamese dong (€75.2) or face up to five years in prison.
Those caught importing, trading, transporting and/or producing vapes and related materials will see even stiffer penalties. They will be fined up to three million dong (€114) or handed a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, depending on the scale of offence.
Vietnam joins other countries including Singapore, Thailand, India and Australia in banning vapes.
