Constraining electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) nicotine dose by controlling nicotine flux at a limited puff duration.

Nicotine flux, the rate of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) nicotine emission, is important in determining ENDS abuse liability. However, flux does not account for user behavior, including puff duration. Along with nicotine flux, puff duration limits the dose of nicotine that can be inhaled. Controlling both flux and puff duration allows regulators to constrain nicotine dose effectively. This study examined the effects of differing ENDS nicotine fluxes (by manipulating liquid nicotine concentration and holding device power constant), with user puff duration limited to 2 s. Participants (N = 32) completed four sessions, each session differing by nicotine flux (no flux, low flux, cigarettelike flux, and high flux conditions). Participants completed two ENDS use bouts in each session while puff duration was limited to 2 s. Plasma nicotine concentration, heart rate, and subjective effects were measured. At higher flux, higher plasma nicotine concentration and higher heart rate were observed. Moreover, higher fluxes decreased ratings of craving and urge to use nicotine and increased positive subjective effects, such as calmness. This study demonstrates that by manipulating nicotine flux and limiting puff duration, nicotine dose can be controlled. Subsequent research should demonstrate the effects of manipulating puff duration systematically. Results underscore the importance of targeting both flux and puff duration for ENDS regulation, intended to reduce abuse liability while maintaining the potential to facilitate transitions from cigarettes to ENDS. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessment of human abuse potential of an unflavored, sucralose-sweetened electronic cigarette in combustible cigarette smokers.

Despite the popularity of electronic cigarettes (ECIGs), limited research has examined the role of sweeteners, independent of other flavors, in shaping ECIG human abuse potential (HAP). This study examined the effects of sucralose and nicotine in unflavored ECIG liquid solutions to provide a basic understanding of the effects of sweeteners on ECIG HAP compared to combustible cigarettes. Individuals who smoked cigarettes daily (N = 14) completed five within-subject, Latin-square ordered study sessions that differed by product used: (a) own-brand combustible cigarettes (OB), (b) 0 mg/mL nicotine, unsweetened liquid, (c) 0 mg/mL nicotine, sucralose-sweetened liquid, (d) 15 mg/mL nicotine, unsweetened liquid, and (e) 15 mg/mL nicotine, sucralose-sweetened liquid. Participants completed subjective questionnaires and behavioral tasks following a 10-puff directed use bout during which puff topography was measured, and blood was sampled for later measurement of plasma nicotine concentration. On average, the OB condition had a greater increase in plasma nicotine concentration and produced more pronounced subjective effects compared to the ECIG conditions. The 15 mg/mL nicotine ECIGs delivered significantly more nicotine and produced greater drug effects and reductions in tobacco abstinence symptoms than the 0 mg/mL nicotine ECIGs. Sucralose-containing solutions increased ECIG product appeal, puff duration, and puff volume during the 10-puff directed bout. Findings revealed greater HAP for OB cigarettes relative to all ECIGs tested and suggest that adding sucralose and nicotine elevates ECIG HAP via different mechanisms; sucralose appears to influence HAP through product appeal, while nicotine influences HAP through drug effects and tobacco/nicotine abstinence symptom suppression. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The impact of vaping ethanol-containing electronic cigarette liquids on roadside impairment investigations.

Legal professionals and others have suggested that vaping electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) prior to or during ethanol breath testing may produce false positives. Preliminary breath tests (PBTs) and evidentiary breath tests (EBTs) measure ethanol in exhaled breath and standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) are used to assess impairment. Ethanol has been identified in e-cig liquids (e-liquids). Presented are a series of experiments designed to determine the mechanics of vaping ethanol using an e-cig and the effects of vaping ethanol on the SFSTs and breath tests used by law enforcement officers (LEO). Twelve participants (five females, age: 21-32 and seven males, age: 21-55), vaped either one or ten puffs of an e-liquid (0% or 20% ethanol). LEOs assessed impairment using SFSTs (12 and 42 min), PBTs (<1, 27, 32, 37 and 57 min) and EBTs (2, 29, 34, 39 and 59 min) post-vaping. A self-assessment test was administered post-vaping (22 and 52 min). Baseline responses for all measures were collected prior to vaping. Results demonstrated that ethanol in the e-liquids was aerosolized by e-cigs and produced particles that could reach the deep lung tissue based on mean-mass diameter. Ethanol was detected by PBT <3 min after participants vaped one (0.007-0.030 g/210 L) or ten puffs (013-0.074 g/210 L) of a 20% ethanol e-liquid. Ethanol was not detected by PBT at any subsequent time point. Ethanol was not detected by the EBT under any condition. Impairment was not indicated by the SFST. Some subjective effects were reported, but few statistically significant differences between conditions were indicated. A wait period prior to ethanol breath testing is not always mandated, depending on jurisdiction, or observed in all applications, such as workplace testing. The results demonstrate that a wait period must be employed to prevent vaping-related false-positive breath ethanol results.

Reactions to a Hypothetical Menthol Cigarette Ban among Sexual- and Gender-Minoritized Communities: A Concept Mapping Study.

Menthol cigarette use is disproportionately higher among sexual- and gender-minoritized (SGM; 36%) individuals compared to cisgender, heterosexual (29%), individuals. The FDA has announced intentions to ban menthol in cigarettes, citing these use and health disparities as partial motivation. This study identified potential outcomes of a menthol cigarette ban among SGM individuals who smoke menthol cigarettes (N = 72). Potential outcomes were identified via concept mapping using the prompt: "If menthol in cigarettes was banned, a specific action I would take related to my tobacco use is…" Participants generated 82 response statements, sorted them, and rated them on personal relevance. Eight thematic clusters were identified: (1) Thoughtful Consideration of the Ban, (2) Negative Reactions to the Ban, (3) Positive Aspects of the Ban, (4) Strategies to Reduce Cravings, (5) Intent to Quit and Cessation Strategies, (6) Support-Seeking and Engagement in Positive Behaviors, (7) Strategies to Maintain Menthol-Flavored Product Use, and (8) Substance Use Alternatives to Menthol Cigarettes. Cluster differences based on sociodemographic factors, smoking behavior, and quitting interest were identified. Results provide insight into potential responses to a menthol cigarette ban and can contribute to public health prevention and intervention efforts, messaging campaigns, and support services for SGM people who smoke menthol cigarettes, specifically.

Impacts of COVID-19 on cigarette use, smoking behaviors, and tobacco purchasing behaviors.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact. As a respiratory illness, COVID-19 may pose unique risks to cigarette smokers. This study used concept mapping, a mixed-method participatory approach, to identify impacts of COVID-19 on cigarette smokers. METHODS: Cigarette smokers across the United States (U.S.) were recruited to complete this online, multi-step study. Of the 126 participants who were invited to participate in this study, 91 participants (mean age = 40.9; SD = 11.3) completed at least one of the three study tasks (i.e., brainstorming, sorting, and rating). Participants completed a brief demographic survey and brainstormed statements that completed a focus prompt: "A specific way that Coronavirus/COVID-19 has impacted/affected my cigarette use, smoking behaviors, tobacco purchasing behaviors, and/or other tobacco-related behaviors is." After duplicate statements were removed, participants sorted the final list of 87 statements by similarity of content and rated how true statements were from them (1-Definitely NOT true to 7-Definitely true). RESULTS: Nine thematic clusters were identified: Smoking More, Smoking to Cope/Reduce Stress, Change in Smoking Behaviors Due to COVID-19, Concerns about Smoking and COVID-19 Risk, Social Impacts, Maintaining and Rationing Cigarette Supply, Impacts on Obtaining Cigarettes, Use of Other Tobacco Products/Drugs, and Minimal/No Impacts/Concerns of COVID-19. The highest rated cluster (i.e., most true) was the Smoking More cluster followed by the Concerns about Smoking and COVID-19 Risk cluster. The highest rated statement in the study was the statement "Smoking keeps me calm". CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette smokers may endure additional impacts of COVID-19, such as increased COVID-19 health burdens, stressors related to risk of exposure, social stigma and isolation, financial burdens, and increased toxicant exposure from increased smoking frequency.