Impact of WS-3, Menthol, and Non-menthol Cigarettes on Cigarette Smoking and Abuse Liability Among Adult Menthol Smokers: A Pilot Investigation

The Food and Drug Administration has been considering a potential federal restriction on menthol as a characterizing flavor in combustible cigarettes, a policy that would likely significantly reduce tobacco related disparities among Black adults who smoke menthol cigarette. However, in states where this policy has been enacted and menthol cigarettes are off the market, the tobacco industry has circumvented the restriction by introducing new non-menthol cigarettes that include WS-3, a chemical that acts as a cooling agent but without use of menthol. Our team is interested in understanding the extent to which WS-3 undermines a potential future menthol ban and the impact on the reduction in cigarettes smoked, particularly among Black adults who smoke.

The overall objective of this application is to obtain effect sizes and establish feasibility for an upcoming R01 submission. Specific aims include: Aim1: Determine the change in total cigarettes per day (CPD) when using menthol cigarettes, WS-3 cigarettes, and traditional non-menthol cigarettes. The primary comparison is between WS-3 and traditional non-menthol cigarettes. Aim 2: Understand the comparative abuse liability during ad libitum use of menthol cigarettes, WS-3 synthetic cooling agent cigarettes, and traditional non-menthol cigarettes. The study intervention involves providing study participants, who are all adult current smokers with no intention to quit or alter their cigarette smoking, with either menthol cigarettes, WS-3 synthetic cooling agent cigarettes, or traditional non-menthol cigarettes. All study products are commercially available. Participants will report on their usual number of cigarettes per day and will be provided a commensurate amount of study cigarettes to allow them to make a complete switch to the study product for the duration of the 6 week research study.