Science has consistently found that switching from smoking to vaping, or using other NRTs, significantly benefits the pockets of former smokers, and ultimately their local healthcare systems.
A study by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, published in “Nicotine and Tobacco Research,” examined how flavour restrictions on nicotine and tobacco products affect health equity, focusing on socioeconomic disparities. Using data from the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace, researchers simulated the effects of banning menthol cigarettes and flavoured vapes on purchasing behaviours of individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
The study found that restricting menthol cigarettes while making nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) more accessible, could potentially reduce socioeconomic disparities in tobacco use. Specifically, individuals from lower socioeconomic groups, showed a significant decrease in cigarette purchases and an increase in NRT use when menthol was banned in cigarettes.
Participants in the higher socioeconomic group generally bought fewer cigarettes, more vapes, and more NRTs under current market conditions. Conversely, the lower socioeconomic group purchased more cigarettes, and fewer NRT products inlcuding vaping products. The analysis included four conditions: current market, menthol cigarette ban only, vape flavour restriction only, and both menthol and vape flavour restrictions.
The findings revealed that the menthol cigarette ban notably reduced disparities by increasing NRT purchases among the lower socioeconomic group. Science has consistently shown that menthol enables deeper inhalation, allowing smokers with limited resources to maximize nicotine intake, and the current study found that the ban prompted them to switch to NRTs.
The study emphasized the importance of considering the broader context when evaluating tobacco policies, as the availability of alternative products significantly influences cigarette substitution. The researchers proposed that well-designed policies could mitigate health disparities if implemented thoughtfully. Warren Bickel, a professor at the institute, highlighted the interplay of policies, noting that simultaneous implementation of certain policies could either alleviate or exacerbate disparities.
Exploring the cost-benefit ratio of using novel nicotine products
Analyzing the financial cost of smoking from a different angle, an upcoming study coordinated by the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) at the University of Catania, aims to evaluate the cost-benefit ratio of using combustion-free nicotine products.
This SMOPHED (Tobacco SMOking and nicotine PHenotype and severity of clinical presentation at Emergency Room Department) study aims to determine the potential savings if smokers switch to lower-risk products, by addressing critical questions regarding the burden smokers place on national healthcare systems. With over 40 million smokers worldwide having transitioned to reduced-risk products to mitigate the harm caused by conventional cigarettes, the study explores how these tobacco harm reduction strategies could influence health policies and reduce smoking-related hospital admissions.
The research team will investigate the correlation between the severity of clinical presentations in emergency departments and the use of various nicotine products. Professor Davide Campagna from the University of Catania’s Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine explains that the study intends to assess whether the use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products affects emergency department admissions and overall health, by collecting data from admissions to the Emergency Department of the “Gaspare – Rodolico” Polyclinic Hospital in Catania, involving approximately 1500 smokers, 1000 former smokers, and 350 dual users.
Professor Riccardo Polosa, founder of CoEHAR, highlighted that the tested hypothesis of this study is that the use of combustion-free electronic devices is associated with lower NEWS scores, indicating less severe illnesses, shorter emergency room stays, fewer negative outcomes, and consequently, reduced costs for the national healthcare system. The findings from the SMOPHED study aim to inform health policies by highlighting the benefits of harm reduction strategies.
Switch and save money
In recent years, several studies have highlighted significant financial benefits of switching from smoking traditional cigarettes to vaping and other safer nicotine alternatives. A prominent study published in Addiction in 2019 revealed that smokers who switched to vaping saved substantial amounts of money annually. The study found that vapers spent around £1,200 less per year compared to traditional cigarette smokers due to lower costs associated with e-cigarettes and vaping liquids.
Another report by the UK Royal College of Physicians supports these findings, indicating that smokers who switch to e-cigarettes or other nicotine replacement therapies can significantly reduce their spending on tobacco products. The report estimates that the average smoker spends about £3,000 annually on cigarettes, whereas switching to vaping can reduce this expenditure by approximately two-thirds .
Additionally, a study from BMJ Open highlighted the broader economic benefits, suggesting that reduced smoking rates due to switching to safer alternatives could lead to lower healthcare costs and improved productivity. These savings arise from fewer smoking-related illnesses and hospitalizations, which are significant financial burdens on both individuals and healthcare systems .
Overall, research has consistently indicated that aside from health benefits, there are also financial incentives for smokers to transition to vaping and other safer nicotine products. Experts in the field have emphasized not only personal savings but also potential public health and economic benefits.