JAMA Publishes Guidance for Doctors to Discuss Vaping With Smokers

New recommendations published in JAMA on July 30 advise clinicians to discuss nicotine e-cigarettes as a harm reduction option with adult smokers who have not quit using FDA-approved cessation methods.

The guidance was developed by a working group within the international Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Treatment. The authors said completely quitting combustible cigarettes remains the preferred outcome, and adults who switch to e-cigarettes should fully replace cigarette smoking rather than continue dual use.

The recommendations apply only to adults who smoke, not youth or non-tobacco users. Clinicians are encouraged to present patients with a menu of options for quitting and to weigh the risks and benefits of each, according to a press release accompanying the publication.

Patricia Cioe, professor and associate dean for research at the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing, was the only nurse scientist on the expert panel. Cioe said her perspective evolved through years of clinical practice, including interviews with adults who described repeated failed quit attempts despite strong motivation to stop smoking, and that those experiences showed why clinicians need to “meet patients where they are.”

An accompanying JAMA editorial said nicotine e-cigarettes have been shown to be more effective for smoking cessation than FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies. The publication comes as U.S. youth vaping has fallen 74% since 2019, according to federal survey data.

Sources

– JAMA (July 30, 2026): Recommendations for Nicotine E-Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation – JAMA (July 30, 2026): Physician Advice on E-Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation (editorial) – EurekAlert (July 30, 2026): Press release on the JAMA recommendations – Tobacco Reporter (August 4, 2026): Experts recommend physicians use vape to help smokers quit