Electronic cigarettes and nicotine harm-reduction

Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDs) use has increased in prevalence over the last decade, which has led to questions about their public health impact. In this article, we explore the emergent research on the relative health effects of using ENDs versus combustible cigarettes, whether ENDs can be utilized to promote nicotine cessation, and whether the advent of ENDs’ may lead to an increase in nicotine use and dependence. Extant research on ENDs’ acute health effects find them to be lesser than use of combustible cigarettes. ENDs do not appear to be efficacious as an immediate cessation aid, and may be a ‘gateway’ to adolescent nicotine use. However, in the absence of longitudinal research, a determination of ENDs as a nicotine harm-reduction approach is premature.