E-cigarette use for smoking cessation and its regulatory trends worldwide

ABSTRACT

E-cigarettes were considered safe at the early stage of market entry because they were thought not to contain harmful ingredients such as nicotine and because the smoke emitted was vapor. For this reason, the use of e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to tobacco cigarettes or as a smoking cessation aid has emerged. However, the study results on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation are mixed. In response to the increased use of e-cigarettes, foreign countries have implemented various regulations, such as utilizing e-cigarettes for smoking cessation with a prescription in Australia; however, South Korea is still standing firm on recommending not to use e-cigarettes at all. Therefore, the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation and the regulatory trends of e-cigarette use overseas will be reviewed to discuss the future direction in South Korea needs to take.