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Potential Effects of Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Flavor Regulations on African American Menthol Smokers

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Flavors
Interventions
Other: Tobacco product administration and assessment
Registration Number
NCT05023096
Lead Sponsor
Virginia Commonwealth University
Brief Summary

This study aims to better understand how the availability of electronic nicotine delivery system (aka electronic cigarettes) flavors (e.g., menthol, tobacco) impacts tobacco use behaviors, toxicant exposure, and abuse liability among African American menthol smokers.

Detailed Description

Black/African American (AA) menthol smokers are disproportionately harmed by tobacco products and could experience significant health benefits from increased availability of well-regulated electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The current study will evaluate whether ENDS flavor availability affects measures of tobacco use, biomarkers of cigarette/ENDS exposure, and addiction among AA menthol smokers by performing a 3-arm, 6-week clinical trial of ENDS provision with follow-up to 30 days. Results of this work will help FDA make predictions about the impact of moving from the current regulatory market were menthol/tobacco flavored ENDS cartridges are available, to one where only tobacco or unflavored cartridges are available, in order to maximize health-promoting effects and minimize unintended consequences among AA menthol smokers.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
71
Inclusion Criteria
  • 21+ years of age
  • identify as Black/African American (single or multi-race)
  • have used ≥5 cigarettes per day for ≥1 year
  • biochemically confirmed cigarette smoking status
  • regular cigarette brand is flavored to taste like menthol or mint
  • ENDS use in the past 3 months
  • report no intent to quit smoking in the next 6 months
  • previous quit attempt using evidence-based method
  • have a working mobile phone with a texting/data plan
  • are willing receive phone calls/text messages and complete internet-based/online surveys related to the study.
  • read and write in English
Exclusion Criteria
  • are unwilling to use ENDS as part of the trial
  • unstable or significant medical condition in the past 12 months
  • report any other illegal drug use in past 30 days
  • report intent to become pregnant or current pregnancy/breastfeeding
  • report any other condition that may affect participant safety or not allow them to fully participate in the study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
TobaccoTobacco product administration and assessmentTobacco - where only tobacco flavored liquid is available for electronic nicotine delivery systems
Menthol+TobaccoTobacco product administration and assessmentMenthol+Tobacco - where both menthol and tobacco flavored liquids for electronic nicotine delivery systems are available to choose from
UnflavoredTobacco product administration and assessmentUnflavored - where only unflavored liquid is available for electronic nicotine delivery systems
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Average Daily Cigarette UseWeek 1 vs. Week 6

Number of cigarettes used in the past day, collected via daily text survey, averaged over the past week

Change in Carbon Monoxide ExposureWeek 1 vs. Week 6

A biomarker of combusted cigarette use collected from exhaled breath

Willingness to Substitute from Cigarettes to ENDSWeek 6

Measure of substitution for condition-specific tobacco products will be assessed using drug purchase tasks. Choices made during this task are not reinforced.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Proplyne Glycol ExposureWeek 1 vs. Week 6

A biomarker of ENDS use collected from urine

Willingness to Pay for ENDSWeek 6

Willingness to pay for condition-specific tobacco products will be assessed using drug purchase tasks. Choices made during this task are not reinforced.

Change in NNAL ExposureWeek 1 vs. Week 6

A biomarker of combusted cigarette use collected from urine

Change in Average Daily ENDS UseWeek 1 vs. Week 6

Number of ENDS puffs in the past day, collected via daily text survey, averaged over the past week

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Virginia Commonwealth University

🇺🇸

Richmond, Virginia, United States

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