Prevalence of smoking among opioid-dependent individuals is four-fold that of the general US adult population and is associated with increased risk for smoking-related morbidity and mortality. The 2009 passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gave the FDA regulatory junsdiction over tobacco products, and a public policy mandating a reduction in cigarette nicotine content is currently being considered. Such a policy could dramatically reduce smoking rates and smoking-related adverse health effects in the general population. Unfortunately, little is known scientifically about the effects of reduced-nicotine cigarettes in populations that are especially vulnerable to smoking and adverse health outcomes, including smokers with comorbid other drug dependence. Whether this more dependent group might respond with compensatory increases in smoking rate or inhalation patterns, potentially increasing exposure and adverse health effects, is unknown. The overarching objective of this project is to conduct a thorough experimental evaluation ofthe abuse liability and health effects of very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes in opioid-dependent smokers. We will compare cigarettes varying in nicotine content across a range of doses starting from levels approximating those in usual brand cigarettes to very low nicotine levels (0.83, 0.28, 0.10, 0.03mg) using brief- and extended-exposure protocols. This project will represent the first investigation of VLNC cigarettes in smokers with opioid dependence or other substance use disorders and stands to contribute new scientific knowledge with the potential to inform FDA policy decisions. As Primary Aims, we will evaluate whether VLNC substitute for usual-nicotine cigarettes during bnef exposure, without producing compensatory increases in smoking, and we will compare VLNC and usual-nicotine cigarettes, under conditions of extended (12-week) exposure, on smoking rates, toxin exposure levels, and nicotine dependence. As Secondary Aims, we will assess adherence, withdrawal, cigarette demand, biomarkers of exposure to carcinogens, markers of pulmonary, cardiovascular and neurocognitive function and use of other non-prescribed drugs. Understanding how opioid-dependent smokers respond to reduced-nicotine cigarettes is essential for evaluating the potential impact of a nicotine reduction policy. We propose to provide the first experimental analysis of the effects of VLNC cigarettes in opioid-dependent smokers using measures that are relevant to the abuse liability and potential health impact of these products. Taken together, these data have the potential to directly inform FDA policv decisions regarding reduced-nicotine tobacco products.

Public Health Relevance

Prevalence of smoking in opioid-dependent individuals is four-fold that of the U.S. adult population and associated with significant smoking-related morbidity and mortality. This project will investigate the acute and extended effects of reduced-nicotine cigarettes on smoking rate, toxicants, health effects, cognitive functioning and other measures in smokers receiving methadone or buprenorphine treatment for opioid dependence. This information will help to determine whether a public health policy of reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes would be effective and safe forthis challenging population of vulnerable smokers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Specialized Center (P50)
Project #
5P50DA036114-02
Application #
8737850
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2014-09-01
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Vermont & St Agric College
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Burlington
State
VT
Country
United States
Zip Code
05405
Cepeda-Benito, A; Doogan, N J; Redner, R et al. (2018) Trend differences in men and women in rural and urban U.S. settings. Prev Med 117:69-75
D'Alberto, Nicholas; Chaarani, Bader; Orr, Catherine A et al. (2018) Individual differences in stop-related activity are inflated by the adaptive algorithm in the stop signal task. Hum Brain Mapp 39:3263-3276
Gaalema, Diann E; Leventhal, Adam M; Priest, Jeffrey S et al. (2018) Understanding individual differences in vulnerability to cigarette smoking is enhanced by attention to the intersection of common risk factors. Prev Med 117:38-42
Ganz, Ollie; Johnson, Amanda L; Cohn, Amy M et al. (2018) Tobacco harm perceptions and use among sexual and gender minorities: findings from a national sample of young adults in the United States. Addict Behav 81:104-108
Phillips, Julie K; Skelly, Joan M; King, Sarah E et al. (2018) Associations of maternal obesity and smoking status with perinatal outcomes. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 31:1620-1626
Gaalema, Diann E; Pericot-Valverde, Irene; Bunn, Janice Y et al. (2018) Tobacco use in cardiac patients: Perceptions, use, and changes after a recent myocardial infarction among US adults in the PATH study (2013-2015). Prev Med 117:76-82
Lopez, Alexa A; Redner, Ryan; Kurti, Allison N et al. (2018) Tobacco and nicotine delivery product use in a U.S. national sample of women of reproductive age. Prev Med 117:61-68
Streck, Joanna M; Heil, Sarah H; Higgins, Stephen T et al. (2018) Tobacco withdrawal among opioid-dependent smokers. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 26:119-124
Parker, Maria A; Streck, Joanna M; Bergeria, Cecilia L et al. (2018) Reduced Nicotine Content Cigarettes and Cannabis Use in Vulnerable Populations. Tob Regul Sci 4:84-91
Taghavi, Taraneh; Arger, Christopher A; Heil, Sarah H et al. (2018) Longitudinal Influence of Pregnancy on Nicotine Metabolic Pathways. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 364:238-245

Showing the most recent 10 out of 74 publications