**Varenicline, a Smoking Cessation Aid, Proves Effective for E-Cigarette Cessation in Adolescents and Young Adults**

**CHICAGO, IL** – Varenicline, a medication widely prescribed to help individuals quit smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes, has demonstrated significant efficacy and safety in aiding adolescents and young adults seeking to cease electronic cigarette use, commonly known as vaping. This landmark finding comes from a rigorous study published in the prestigious *Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)*, offering a much-needed, evidence-based treatment option for a growing public health concern.

The research addresses

the escalating rates of nicotine dependence among young people driven by e-cigarette use. While pharmacotherapies for traditional cigarette cessation are well-established, their effectiveness specifically for vaping cessation in younger populations has remained largely unproven until now. This study directly tackles that gap.

Conducted over 12 weeks, the randomized controlled trial involved 261
participants aged between 16 and 25 years. These individuals were regular
nicotine vapers, using e-cigarettes daily or near-daily, and expressed a desire
to reduce or completely quit their vaping habit. Crucially, the participant
group primarily consisted of individuals who were *not* regular smokers of
traditional tobacco cigarettes, reflecting a distinct pattern of nicotine use
prevalent among contemporary youth.

Participants were randomly assigned

to receive either varenicline, marketed by Pfizer under the brand name Chantix, or a visually identical placebo. Complementing the medication, all participants received structured behavioral support, including weekly counseling sessions and reinforcing text messages, elements known to enhance cessation success rates.

The results at the conclusion of the 12-week treatment phase were striking.
The rate of sustained abstinence from vaping during the final month of
treatment reached 51% among those receiving varenicline. In stark contrast,
only 14% of participants in the placebo group achieved sustained abstinence
during the same period. This statistically significant difference highlights the
potent effect of varenicline beyond the behavioral support provided to both
groups.

Furthermore

the study tracked participants for a total of six months, assessing outcomes approximately two months after the cessation of the medication phase. While abstinence rates naturally declined post-treatment, the advantage for the varenicline group persisted. At the six-month mark, 28% of those who had taken varenicline remained vape-free, compared to just 7% in the placebo group.

Importantly, the researchers reported that the incidence and types of side
effects were comparable between the varenicline and placebo groups. This
suggests that varenicline is generally well-tolerated by this younger
demographic, a critical factor when considering treatment options for
adolescents and young adults.

The study authors underscored the significance of their work, stating, "To our knowledge, this is the first pharmacotherapy trial for nicotine vaping cessation among youth." They added, "Most young people addicted to inhaled nicotine through vaping have not regularly smoked tobacco and wish to quit vaping," emphasizing the unique cohort addressed by this research.

These findings provide compelling

evidence that varenicline, coupled with appropriate behavioral support, represents an effective, safe, and readily available pharmacological intervention to help adolescents and young adults overcome nicotine addiction stemming from e-cigarette use. This research offers clinicians a valuable tool in combating the youth vaping epidemic.