Vapers exhibit similar subjective nicotine dependence but lower nicotine reinforcing value compared to smokers.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the dependency levels among smokers and vapers using self-report measures and behavioral economic tasks. The study aims to compare dependency on cigarettes in current smokers to dependency on e-cigarettes in current vapers. The Cigarette Dependence Scale, Cigarette Purchase Task (CPT), and Concurrent Choice Task (CCT) were used in the study.

Key Points:

* The study included 25 smokers and 21 vapers who attended one session and were asked to abstain from smoking or vaping for at least one hour before the study.
* Participants completed tasks in a fixed order, including the CDS-12/e-CDS-12, MPSS, CPT/eCPT, and CCT.
* The CPT indices, including intensity, Omax, Pmax, and breakpoint, were analyzed using an observed values approach.
* a 2 (group: smokers vs. vapers) ×3 (cue type: no cue vs. cigarette/e-cig cue vs. money cue) aNCOVa was conducted on the log transformed data from the cue-priming stage of the CCT.
* Vapers were older, smoked more cigarettes per day and for more years, and used a wide variety of devices.
* Smokers and vapers did not differ on current urge to smoke or vape, levels of nicotine withdrawal symptoms, and overall CDS scores.
* however, vapers reported higher levels of stress if they do not have their device, may smoke sooner after waking, and feel like they smoke too much.
* Smokers spent considerably more, exhibited lower price sensitivity Pmax, and had a significantly higher breakpoint.

Main Message:
The study found that while smokers and vapers reported similar levels of dependency on self-report measures, nicotine may have a higher reinforcing value for smokers than vapers. Smokers were willing to pay more for cigarettes than vapers were for e-cigarettes, indicating a higher willingness to spend money to obtain tobacco. Vapers were more sensitive to costs on the CPT and showed a reduction in e-cigarette choice when primed with money cues on the CCT. The findings suggest that vaping may be a viable harm-reduction alternative to smoking tobacco, but further research is needed to establish equivalent self-report measures for e-cigarette dependence and to explore the relative value of both products in dual users. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the dependency levels among smokers and vapers, which can inform regulatory decisions related to e-cigarettes.

Rycroft N, hogarth L, MacKillop J, Dawkins L. Vapers exhibit similar subjective nicotine dependence but lower nicotine reinforcing value compared to smokers. addictive behaviors. 2021;115:106737. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106737