Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-powered devices. They heat nicotine mixed with flavourings and other chemicals to create an aerosol to inhale.
Using an e-cigarette is known as vaping.
The best thing you can do for your health is not to smoke or vape. We offer free support and advice on options that help with nicotine withdrawal.
If you vape and smoke cigarettes
Most adults who vape also smoke cigarettes or used to smoke cigarettes.
Smoking cigarettes and vaping are both ways to inhale nicotine.
Smoking tobacco is extremely dangerous. Vaping delivers nicotine with fewer toxins than cigarettes. Compared to cigarettes, vaping may be less harmful. But vaping is not harm-free.
If you vape, it's best to stop using tobacco products completely. Vaping and smoking together increases the risk of health problems. For example, heart problems and breathing problems.
Vaping to stop smoking
Most people who smoke cigarettes worry about their health and want to stop smoking.
If you smoke and want to stop, we recommend you:
- get support from a stop smoking advisor, GP or pharmacist
- use licensed medicines to stop smoking
Based on what we currently know, this is the safest and most effective way to stop smoking.
We do not recommend vaping as a way to stop smoking.
This is because:
- safer options have been proven to work
- e-cigarettes are not stop smoking medicines
Safer options have been proven to work
Licensed medicines to stop smoking include:
- nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) - available in pharmacies
- prescription treatments from your GP
These treatments have been tested over many years. They work and they are safe.
We have reviewed the studies of vaping as a stop smoking support. Compared to the options we recommend, we are not confident that vaping is a safe or effective way to stop smoking. We will continue to review new studies.
Some people who use vaping to quit smoking may continue to use tobacco. This increases the risk of harm.
E-cigarettes are not stop smoking medicines
E-cigarettes are not licensed medicines.
Licensed medicines go through quality and safety checks before they can be sold.
There are some regulations for e-cigarettes and vaping liquids as consumer products. But many products do not meet these standards. The system for licensed medicines is much stricter.
Get support to quit smoking for good
Some people find it hard to stop smoking. Most people who quit have tried to quit before.
You are 5 times more likely to quit for good if you do all of these:
- commit to quit for 28 days
- use NRT or prescription medicines to stop smoking
- get support from a trained advisor to change your behaviour
Vaping if you do not smoke cigarettes
If you have never smoked cigarettes, vaping offers no health benefit. If you do not smoke, do not start vaping.
Most vaping liquids contain nicotine. Nicotine is a dangerous and addictive chemical.
Risks of vaping
The risks and negative health effects linked with vaping include:
- nicotine dependence - you get cravings for nicotine or feel you need it to do certain things
- sleep problems
- mental health difficulties such as anxiety - nicotine and mental health
- damage to your heart, lungs and blood vessels
- exposure to toxins
- injuries from batteries or nicotine poisoning - but this is less common
Over time these risks may cause diseases such as heart disease, lung disease and cancer. If you have asthma, vaping makes your symptoms worse.
Vape liquid that does not contain nicotine often has other chemicals such as colours and flavourings. These chemicals can be harmful when you inhale them into your lungs.
We are still learning about the long-term risks of vaping. This is because e-cigarettes are relatively new compared to cigarettes. We need to review studies of people who use e-cigarettes over many years before we can know the long-term risks.
Make a complaint related to vapes or e-cigarettes
Vaping and drugs
There are different health risks if you use vape liquids that contain other substances.
If you vape liquids that contain drugs, you can get support to stop.
Drugs and alcohol helpline
Our helpline for support, information or advice on treatment options.
Freephone: 1800 459 459
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm
Email: helpline@hse.ie