Alternative Nicotine Products: The Most Effective Ways to Quit Smoking, According to New CDC Data

Exciting new findings from the National Health Interview Survey, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shed light on how adults in the U.S. are successfully kicking the smoking habit. This comprehensive analysis, spearheaded by researchers Floe Foxon and Raymond Niaura—esteemed experts in tobacco research and public health—examined various nicotine products, prescription medications, and other quit-smoking methods used by American adults.

Floe Foxon is a prominent researcher specializing in tobacco control and smoking cessation strategies, while Raymond Niaura brings extensive experience in behavioral science and public health interventions aimed at reducing tobacco use.

The survey included a robust sample of 27,651 individuals, focusing on those who successfully quit smoking cigarettes for at least six months in the past year, while also considering 1,735 individuals who tried but were unsuccessful in their attempts.

The findings reveal that approximately 2.9 million adults in the U.S. managed to quit smoking last year. A closer look at these successful quitters shows that the majority were young, non-Hispanic white men under 55, with college degrees, identifying as heterosexual, generally not depressed, and who consumed alcohol.

Interestingly, among the 13.1 million adults who attempted to quit but did not succeed, those who successfully overcame their smoking habit were more likely to be younger, hold college degrees, and use e-cigarettes. The study underscores a crucial point: many individuals are still trying to quit without any support. Therefore, targeted interventions are needed, particularly for those with the least success. These efforts should focus on promoting evidence-based methods for smoking cessation.

To delve deeper into this important research, you can refer to the study by Foxon and Niaura titled "Use of nicotine products, prescription drug products, and other methods to stop smoking by US adults in the 2022 National Health Interview Survey," published in Intern Emerg Med (2025).