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A new study has found that phone-based quitline coaching helped nearly 50% of young people successfully quit vaping, offering a promising solution to reduce nicotine addiction and prevent a potential shift to smoking cigarettes. This research, published on December 10, 2024, in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, highlights the effectiveness of telephone support in helping young adults quit the habit.
The study, conducted by researchers at The Ohio State University College of Public Health, involved more than 500 participants aged 18 to 24. Most participants—nearly 80%—vaped daily. After three months, 45% of them were no longer using e-cigarettes. This high success rate marks a significant breakthrough in vaping cessation, a field with limited research until now.
“This study provides hope that young adult vapers want to quit and can succeed in breaking their addiction to nicotine,” said Liz Klein, a co-author of the study. “This is such an essential group to reach before they transition into more established adulthood and potentially more harmful habits, like smoking combustible cigarettes.”
Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: phone-based quitline coaching alone, coaching plus mailed nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), coaching plus mobile health (mHealth) support, or a combination of all three interventions. Although researchers could not pinpoint which method was the most effective due to the unexpectedly high success rate across the board, the study emphasized that quitline coaching alone was a powerful tool. The team also suggested that nicotine replacement therapy could further boost quit rates.
“We were surprised by the high quit rates and by the fact that most participants said they would recommend quitline calls to others,” Klein explained. “We thought younger people might prefer text messages or other digital methods, but they found the personal connection with a coach beneficial.”
The research underscores the growing concern over vaping among young adults. In 2016, the U.S. Surgeon General labeled e-cigarette use an epidemic, noting its rapid rise among teens and young adults. While vaping is considered safer than smoking traditional cigarettes, it still leads to nicotine addiction, with potential harm to the developing brain. Furthermore, it is often a gateway to smoking combustible cigarettes, which are far more dangerous.
In 2020, vaping rates were reported at 18.9% among those aged 18 to 20 and 13.5% among 21 to 24-year-olds, with over half of these young vapers expressing an interest in quitting. However, effective methods to support quitting have been largely understudied until now.
“We are very excited to see that this cessation approach worked so well in this group,” said Klein. “Our next step is to determine the most effective ways to help young people who vape and also smoke traditional cigarettes.”
The study was conducted by Klein, along with co-principal investigators Katrina Vickerman of RVO Health, Julianna Nemeth, and Abigail Shoben, all of Ohio State University. The findings open new avenues for interventions aimed at helping young adults overcome nicotine addiction, potentially reducing the risks of lifelong smoking habits.
For more information, the full study is published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
