Many smokers are turning to the e-cigarette as method of quitting smoking. However, currently, e-cigarette retailers are not permitted to advertise the e-cigarette as a smoking cessation device, until they present solid scientific evidence to the FDA that the e-cigarette can in fact help people to quit smoking. Right now, there have not been any solid scientific studies conducted in the United States on the effectiveness of the e-cigarette as a smoking cessation device.
But, there is one significant study that has been conducted, outside the United States, on the effectiveness of the e-cigarette as smoking cessation aid. In 2009, doctors in South Africa conducted a study on the e-cigarette as a smoking cessation device. The study involved 349 participants and was conducted over a eight week period. Each of the participants was given the Twisp e-cigarette. The Twisp is an e-cigarette of Dutch origin.
At the conclusion of the study, the doctors found that 45% of the participants were able to quit smoking completely, using the e-cigarette. Of the participants, 6% reported that they had quit smoking within two weeks.
Many smoking cessation devices, such as the gum or patch, typically have success rates that are lower than 30%. Accordingly, based on the results of the South African study, the e-cigarette appears to be more effective than many current smoking cessation devices.
One of the reasons why e-cigarette usage might have been so effective in helping smokers quit is because it is very close to the real act of smoking cigarettes, in addition to satisfying nicotine cravings. When asked why smoking was was so difficult to quit, 49% of the participants said it was the nicotine cravings, while 24% said it was the habit itself.
As mentioned, retailers in the United States can not advertise the e-cigarette as smoking cessation device, until reliable scientific studies have been done in the United States. Hopefully, those studies will become forthcoming soon.
Ron J. Myers is an avid writer. His favorite topics are fitness and health. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/quit-smoking-articles/is-there-any-evidence-that-the-ecigarette-helps-people-to-quit-smoking-1775639.html