Comparison of Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Reward Value Measured During a Cue-Reactivity Task: an Extension of the Choice Behavior Under Cued Conditions Procedure.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a scientific study examining the reward value of tobacco cigarettes and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among dual users. The study used the Choice Behavior Under Cued Conditions (CBUCC) procedure to measure various behaviors related to the motivational properties of tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes, including nonautomatic seeking, automatic seeking, and consumption. The study also analyzed cue-specific craving and its relationship with spending and other variables.

Key Points:

* The study used a sample of 54 dual users who were regular smokers and e-cigarette users.
* The CBUCC procedure involved presenting participants with a lit tobacco cigarette, their own e-cigarette, or a cup of water across multiple trials.
* Participants rated their craving for both tobacco and e-cigarettes and indicated the amount of money they would spend to access the cue.
* The study measured various variables, including craving, amount of money spent to access the cue, latency to access the cue, spending choice time, and consumption.
* The results showed that participants reported significantly higher craving and spent significantly more money on tobacco and e-cigarette trials than on water trials.
* The magnitude of cue-specific craving was comparable across tobacco and e-cigarettes, but participants spent significantly more to access tobacco cigarettes than e-cigarettes.
* Craving was significantly related to spending choice on e-cigarette trials but not on tobacco cigarette trials.
* Self-reported patterns of tobacco and e-cigarette use were not significantly associated with patterns of tobacco and e-cigarette cue reactivity.

Main Message:
The study provides valuable insights into the motivational properties of tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes among dual users. The findings suggest that e-cigarette puffs are less valued and generate less craving than tobacco cigarette puffs for dual users. The study also highlights the utility of the CBUCC procedure for examining a range of motivational processes supporting e-cigarette use. These results have important implications for regulatory matters, as they provide evidence that e-cigarettes may be less rewarding than tobacco cigarettes, which could inform policies and interventions aimed at reducing tobacco use.

Dowd aN, Tiffany ST. Comparison of Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Reward Value Measured During a Cue-Reactivity Task: an Extension of the Choice Behavior Under Cued Conditions Procedure. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2019;21(10):1394-1400. doi:10.1093/ntr/nty143