Study shows loved ones benefit when smokers switch to non-combustible alternatives
June 01, 2026 by businesstech.co.za
Study shows loved ones benefit when smokers switch to non-combustible alternatives
Switching from cigarettes to non-combustible nicotine alternatives is linked not only to benefits for smokers, but also to improvements for the people closest to them. Loved ones reported better quality of life, improved emotional wellbeing and more positive shared experiences when smokers moved to products such as vapes, heated tobacco or nicotine pouches. The findings suggest that harm reduction can have wider household and social benefits, including less exposure to smoke, fewer unpleasant smells and improved relationships. Support for adult access to safer nicotine alternatives was high across the countries surveyed, especially among those who had seen someone quit smoking with these products. Policies that treat vaping and smoking in the same way risk ignoring the very different risk profiles of these products and the real-life benefits reported by smokers and their families.
