Effects of a Low Nicotine Standard and Tobacco Prices on Illegal Cigarette Purchasing

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University70 enrolled

Overview

This study will investigate the effects of a very-low-nicotine cigarette (VLNC) standard, e-cigarette price, and illegal cigarette price on illegal product purchasing and alternative product use in a virtual marketplace.

This experiment will examine the effects of a VLNC standard, electronic cigarette price, and illegal cigarette price on illegal cigarette purchasing. Exclusive cigarette smokers and dual cigarette/nicotine vaping product (NVP) users, stratified by age, will complete multiple scenarios in the legal Experimental Tobacco Marketplace. The investigators will examine the effects of a VLNC standard, predicted to promote illegal purchasing. In the NNC conditions, participants' preferred normal nicotine content (NNC) cigarettes, NVPs, and a variety of other products will be available in the ETM, and preferred NNC cigarettes will also be available in the illegal marketplace. In the VLNC standard conditions, a ban will permit only VLNCs legally in the ETM, but preferred NNC cigarettes will continue to be available illegal marketplace. In this experiment, which will be completed in the lab, we will test three levels of NVP prices and three levels of illegal cigarette prices in scenarios under a VLNC standard or NNC condition. This study will involve a total of three sessions, including an assessment session, an ETM session, and a follow-up phone call.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Cigarette Smoking E-cigarette Use

Interventions

Nicotine ContentBEHAVIORAL

In the full nicotine conditions, participants' preferred cigarettes and NVP products will be available in the LETM and preferred cigarettes will be available in the iETM. In the low nicotine conditions, a ban will permit only VLNCs in the LETM and preferred cigarettes will be available in the iETM.

Illegal cigarette priceBEHAVIORAL

At each level of nicotine content, we will manipulate the price of illegal cigarettes (1xMP, 1.5x MP, 2x MP). MP is market price.

E-cigarette priceBEHAVIORAL

At each level of nicotine content and illegal cigarette price, we will manipulate the price of e-cigarettes (1xMP, 1.5x MP, 2x MP). MP is the market price.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 21 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Provide informed consent Be at least 21 years of age or older Provide a breath sample for measuring carbon monoxide (CO ≥ 8 ppm) Stable tobacco use patterns for at least two months Exclusion Criteria: For exclusive cigarette smokers: Smoke at least 10 cigarettes daily and do not use NVPs regularly (no more than 9 times in the last month). For dual cigarette/NVP users: Smoke at least 10 cigarettes daily and use NVPs at least 3 times in a week (report use of closed nicotine salt system) For both groups: Have plans to move out of the area Have a serious or unstable physical or mental health condition Taking a tobacco cessation medication or medication that interferes with nicotine metabolism, motivation or reinforcement Report concrete, immediate plans to alter/quit using their usual nicotine products at the beginning of the study Being pregnant or lactating

Locations (1)

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion

Roanoke, Virginia, United States

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Percent of budget allocated to each product category (eg, legal cigarettes, e-cigarettes, illegal cigarettes, etc) in the marketplace

The investigators will measure the percent of each partcipants' study budget spent on products from each category (eg, legal cigarettes, e-cigarettes, illegal cigarettes, etc) in the marketplace

Time frame: 1 day

Central Contacts

Kirstin Gatchalian

CONTACT

540-526-2071 kmgatch@vtc.vt.edu

Madeleine Mason, PhD

CONTACT

540-526-2114 mgmason@vtc.vt.edu

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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