Harm Reduction Implications of Vaping Overtaking Smoking in Great Britain

Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi; Riccardo Polosa; Jacob George

doi:10.3389/ijph.2026.1609671

Harm Reduction Implications of Vaping Overtaking Smoking in Great Britain

Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi (Lead / Corresponding author)
, Riccardo Polosa
, Jacob George

Cardiovascular Research

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

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Abstract

In 2024, for the first time since national records began, more adults in Great Britain used e-cigarettes than smoked tobacco cigarettes [1]. Data released by the UK Office for National Statistics in November 2025 showed that 10.0% of adults aged 16 years and over were current e-cigarette users, compared with 9.1% who smoked tobacco (See Figure 1). This statistical crossover is a notable milestone in tobacco control, occurring alongside sustained declines in smoking prevalence—from 20.2% in 2011 to 10.6% in 2024. While cross-sectional and temporal data limit causal inference, these trends are consistent with harm reduction approaches operating alongside traditional tobacco control measures in driving population-level declines in smoking.

Original language	English
Article number	1609671
Number of pages	4
Journal	International Journal of Public Health
Volume	71
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2026.1609671
Publication status	Published - 2 Apr 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

dual use
e-cigarette use
harm reduction
public health
smoking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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10.3389/ijph.2026.1609671Licence: CC BY

Final Published VersionFinal published version, 1.9 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Harm Reduction Implications of Vaping Overtaking Smoking in Great Britain",

abstract = "In 2024, for the first time since national records began, more adults in Great Britain used e-cigarettes than smoked tobacco cigarettes [1]. Data released by the UK Office for National Statistics in November 2025 showed that 10.0\% of adults aged 16 years and over were current e-cigarette users, compared with 9.1\% who smoked tobacco (See Figure 1). This statistical crossover is a notable milestone in tobacco control, occurring alongside sustained declines in smoking prevalence—from 20.2\% in 2011 to 10.6\% in 2024. While cross-sectional and temporal data limit causal inference, these trends are consistent with harm reduction approaches operating alongside traditional tobacco control measures in driving population-level declines in smoking. ",

keywords = "dual use, e-cigarette use, harm reduction, public health, smoking",

author = "Adebisi, \{Yusuff Adebayo\} and Riccardo Polosa and Jacob George",

note = "Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Adebisi, Polosa and George. ",

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day = "2",

doi = "10.3389/ijph.2026.1609671",

language = "English",

volume = "71",

journal = "International Journal of Public Health",

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T1 - Harm Reduction Implications of Vaping Overtaking Smoking in Great Britain

AU - Adebisi, Yusuff Adebayo

AU - Polosa, Riccardo

AU - George, Jacob

PY - 2026/4/2

Y1 - 2026/4/2

N2 - In 2024, for the first time since national records began, more adults in Great Britain used e-cigarettes than smoked tobacco cigarettes [1]. Data released by the UK Office for National Statistics in November 2025 showed that 10.0% of adults aged 16 years and over were current e-cigarette users, compared with 9.1% who smoked tobacco (See Figure 1). This statistical crossover is a notable milestone in tobacco control, occurring alongside sustained declines in smoking prevalence—from 20.2% in 2011 to 10.6% in 2024. While cross-sectional and temporal data limit causal inference, these trends are consistent with harm reduction approaches operating alongside traditional tobacco control measures in driving population-level declines in smoking.

AB - In 2024, for the first time since national records began, more adults in Great Britain used e-cigarettes than smoked tobacco cigarettes [1]. Data released by the UK Office for National Statistics in November 2025 showed that 10.0% of adults aged 16 years and over were current e-cigarette users, compared with 9.1% who smoked tobacco (See Figure 1). This statistical crossover is a notable milestone in tobacco control, occurring alongside sustained declines in smoking prevalence—from 20.2% in 2011 to 10.6% in 2024. While cross-sectional and temporal data limit causal inference, these trends are consistent with harm reduction approaches operating alongside traditional tobacco control measures in driving population-level declines in smoking.

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KW - e-cigarette use

KW - harm reduction

KW - public health

KW - smoking

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DO - 10.3389/ijph.2026.1609671

M3 - Comment/debate

C2 - 42007311

AN - SCOPUS:105036312868

SN - 1661-8556

VL - 71

JO - International Journal of Public Health

JF - International Journal of Public Health

M1 - 1609671

ER -

Harm Reduction Implications of Vaping Overtaking Smoking in Great Britain

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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