Search

Objectives: In this study, we investigated potential effects of being a menthol smoker on response to reduced nicotine content (RNC) cigarettes in smokers especially vulnerable to smoking., Method: Participants were 169 smokers (61 menthol and 108 non-menthol smokers) with comorbid mental illness, substance use disorder, or socioeconomic disadvantage. Participants completed a double-blind study assessing addiction potential, withdrawal/craving, and compensatory smoking across 4 research cigarettes varying in nicotine content from very low levels to commercial levels (0.4, 2.4, 5.2, 15.8mg/g of tobacco). Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine potential moderating effects of menthol status., Results: Statistically significant effects of nicotine dose were noted across measures, with higher doses producing greater economic demand and relief from withdrawal/craving. The relationships between nicotine dose and response to RNC cigarettes do not differ by menthol status., Conclusions: Results of this study suggest menthol does not have a differential impact on response to RNC cigarettes across measures of economic demand, withdrawal/craving, or smoking topography. These results suggest that any potential beneficial effects of RNC cigarettes should extend to menthol smokers including those especially vulnerable to smoking., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Statement None declared. The content herein is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the US Food and Drug Administration.

Objective: We estimated whether recent cannabis use moderates response to cigarettes varying in nicotine content (0.4, 2.4, 5.2, 15.8 mg/g) among smokers with concurrent affective disorders, opioid dependence, or socioeconomic disadvantage. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a multi-site, double-blind, laboratory study examining acute response to reduced nicotine content cigarettes (RNCC) in 169 adult smokers with co-morbid conditions. Participants positive for recent cannabis use or self-reported past 30-day cannabis use at baseline were categorized as current cannabis users (N = 63). Repeated measures analysis of variance tests assessed whether baseline cannabis use moderated cigarette reinforcement, tobacco withdrawal, craving, smoking topography, or carbon monoxide boost. Results: Cannabis users were younger, less educated, and had more depression and anxiety than non-users (p < .05). Cannabis use status did not moderate the effects of nicotine dose on concurrent choice testing, subjective effects of RNCCs, or smoking topography. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, cannabis users had higher ratings on Smoking Satisfaction, Enjoyment of Respiratory Tract Sensations, and Craving Reduction across all nicotine doses. Cannabis users reported longer withdrawal symptom duration and more rapid decline of carbon monoxide boost than non-users. Conclusions: Findings suggest RNCCs decrease the addiction potential of cigarettes in vulnerable populations independent of cannabis use status., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest Statement None declared.

Objectives: Poor mental health is associated with increased cigarette smoking, yet whether this extends to alternative tobacco product use remains unknown., Methods: Wave 1 data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study assessed relationships between self-perceived mental health (SPMH) and prevalence of and motives for tobacco use among US adults (N = 32,320)., Results: Fair/poor SPMH, as compared to good/excellent SPMH, was associated with increased current cigarette (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI = 2.64, 3.20), e-cigarette (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.20, 1.53), cigarillo (AOR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.22, 1.56), filtered cigar (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.21, 1.70), and smokeless tobacco (AOR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.36), but not traditional cigar use (AOR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.90, 1.20). Whereas most motives for tobacco use were similar across SPMH rating, those with fair/poor SPMH, as compared to good/excellent SPMH, were more likely to report using traditional cigars due to affordability (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.23, 1.98) and e-cigarettes (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.79) and smokeless tobacco (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.19, 2.83) due to appealing advertising., Conclusions: Although individuals with poor SPMH are more likely to use alternative tobacco products than those with better SPMH, most motives for use are strikingly similar. These findings highlight the importance of continual monitoring of tobacco use trends among vulnerable populations., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Statement All authors of this article declare they have no conflicts of interest.