Nicotine withdrawal symptoms (e.g., increased negative affect, decreased positive affect, cigarette craving, hunger) are a core component of nicotine dependence that maintain cigarette smoking and inhibit cessation efforts. The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has increased dramatically in recent years, among smokers and non-smokers, with studies demonstrating that e-cigarettes can reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms during acute cigarette abstinence. E-cigarettes with flavorings that simulate the sweet taste of fruit, candy and other sugary foods and beverages are widely available, commonly used and are frequently cited as a reason for the persistent use of e-cigarettes. During nicotine withdrawal, sweet tastes and flavorings have been shown to reduce withdrawal symptoms, and recent studies have found that sweet-flavorings enhance the appeal of e- cigarettes. However, it is unknown if sweet flavored e-cigarettes can reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This behavioral pharmacology laboratory experiment will assess whether sweet (vs. non-sweet) flavored e- cigarettes reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms and motivation to smoke among 40 e-cigarette nave adult smokers interested in trying e-cigarettes (for the first time) following 16-hours of nicotine abstinence. The study's experimental design will provide evidence of the causal effects of e-cigarette flavorings on a putatively critical factor for determining whether smokers continue e-cigarette use after initial trial?the ability of a product to suppress withdrawal and motivation to smoke during periods of tobacco deprivation. The proposed project also offers an excellent training opportunity for the applicant, providing a unique opportunity to conduct original research and begin the path to becoming a successful independent investigator.
The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has increased dramatically in recent years among smokers, many of who have reported using e-cigarettes for smoking reduction or cessation. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms are a core component of cigarette dependence and are a key source of distress for regular smokers. E-cigarettes are believed to be a lower risk substitute and putative harm reduction tool for conventional cigarette smoking that have been shown to reduce acute withdrawal symptoms. However, the effects of specific e-cigarette product characteristics, such as flavorings, on withdrawal symptoms are unknown. This project will use data from a novel experimental study to enhance our understanding of the effects of sweet e-cigarette flavorings on nicotine withdrawal by assessing deprivation-induced changes in subjective measures of withdrawal and objective measures of smoking behavior. These findings will provide critical information for both smoking reduction treatment and tobacco regulatory science, helping elucidate whether sweet flavorings promote the adoption of e-cigarettes among smokers and alter patterns of cigarette smoking by suppressing the acute motivation to smoke.
