Effects of Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes and Nicotine Vaping Device Characteristics on Choices to Smoke, Vape, or Abstain in Early Young Adults

Introduction:
This text presents the results of a study examining the impact of cigarette nicotine content, vaping device nicotine concentration, and vaping device flavors on choices to smoke, vape, or abstain in early young adults. The study aims to inform regulators about the potential impact of a reduced nicotine product standard on smoking behavior in the context of alternative tobacco products.

Key Points:

* The study included 80 early young adults who were daily smokers and had used nicotine vaping devices at least twice.
* Participants were randomized to receive either very low nicotine content (VLNC) or normal nicotine content (NNC) cigarettes and were asked to make choices between smoking, vaping, or abstaining in a laboratory setting.
* When only cigarettes were available, there were no differences in cigarette choices between the VLNC and NNC groups.
* However, when a nicotine vaping device was concurrently available, the VLNC group made fewer choices to smoke than the NNC group.
* Non-tobacco flavors and lower vaping device nicotine concentration were associated with fewer choices to smoke.
* The study suggests that the availability and characteristics of alternative tobacco products can moderate the impact of a reduced nicotine product standard.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of considering the availability and characteristics of alternative tobacco products when implementing a reduced nicotine product standard. Specifically, the study found that the availability of a nicotine vaping device reduced choices to smoke VLNC cigarettes, and vaping devices with lower nicotine and non-tobacco flavors led to the fewest choices to smoke. These findings suggest that regulators should consider the impact of alternative tobacco products when implementing a product standard to reduce smoking behavior effectively.

Rachel N Cassidy, Jennifer W Tidey, Mariel S Bello, Rachel Denlinger-Apte, Christine Goodwin, Julissa Godin, Patricia A Cioe, Robert Swift, Connor Demorest, Joseph S Koopmeiners, Eric Donny, Dorothy Hatsukami, Suzanne M Colby, Effects of Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes and Nicotine Vaping Device Characteristics on Choices to Smoke, Vape, or Abstain in Early Young Adults, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Volume 27, Issue 2, February 2025, Pages 244–253, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae194