Effects of a Low Nicotine Standard and Tobacco Prices on Illegal Cigarette Purchasing

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Cigarette Smoking; E-cigarette Use

• Registration Number: NCT07161050
• Lead Sponsor: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Brief Summary

This study will investigate the effects of a very-low-nicotine cigarette (VLNC) standard, e-cigarette price, and illegal cigarette price on illegal product purchasing and alternative product use in a virtual marketplace.

Detailed Description

This experiment will examine the effects of a VLNC standard, electronic cigarette price, and illegal cigarette price on illegal cigarette purchasing. Exclusive cigarette smokers and dual cigarette/nicotine vaping product (NVP) users, stratified by age, will complete multiple scenarios in the legal Experimental Tobacco Marketplace. The investigators will examine the effects of a VLNC standard, predicted to promote illegal purchasing. In the NNC conditions, participants' preferred normal nicotine content (NNC) cigarettes, NVPs, and a variety of other products will be available in the ETM, and preferred NNC cigarettes will also be available in the illegal marketplace. In the VLNC standard conditions, a ban will permit only VLNCs legally in the ETM, but preferred NNC cigarettes will continue to be available illegal marketplace. In this experiment, which will be completed in the lab, we will test three levels of NVP prices and three levels of illegal cigarette prices in scenarios under a VLNC standard or NNC condition. This study will involve a total of three sessions, including an assessment session, an ETM session, and a follow-up phone call.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-08
• Study First Submitted: 2025-08-29
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-08-29
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-08-29
• Study First Posted: 2025-09-08
• Last Update Posted: 2025-09-08
• Study Start: 2025-10-01
• Primary Completion: 2026-10-01
• Study Completion: 2026-10-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 70

Inclusion Criteria

• Provide informed consent Be at least 21 years of age or older Provide a breath sample for measuring carbon monoxide (CO ≥ 8 ppm) Stable tobacco use patterns for at least two months

Exclusion Criteria

For exclusive cigarette smokers:

Smoke at least 10 cigarettes daily and do not use NVPs regularly (no more than 9 times in the last month).

For dual cigarette/NVP users:

Smoke at least 10 cigarettes daily and use NVPs at least 3 times in a week (report use of closed nicotine salt system)

For both groups:

Have plans to move out of the area Have a serious or unstable physical or mental health condition Taking a tobacco cessation medication or medication that interferes with nicotine metabolism, motivation or reinforcement Report concrete, immediate plans to alter/quit using their usual nicotine products at the beginning of the study Being pregnant or lactating

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percent of budget allocated to each product category (eg, legal cigarettes, e-cigarettes, illegal cigarettes, etc) in the marketplace	1 day	The investigators will measure the percent of each partcipants' study budget spent on products from each category (eg, legal cigarettes, e-cigarettes, illegal cigarettes, etc) in the marketplace

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion; 🇺🇸 Roanoke, Virginia, United States