Differences in Delay, but not Probability Discounting, in Current Smokers, E-cigarette Users, and Never Smokers

Abstract

Steeper delay discounting in substance abuse populations, compared to non-abusing populations, has been well-established in prior studies. Despite the growing interest in e-cigarettes as a novel and relatively understudied form of nicotine consumption, relatively little is known as to how e-cigarette users discount rewards compared to traditional cigarette smokers and never smokers. In the present study, we measured delay and probability discounting rates, as well as perceived risk inherent to a delayed reward, in current traditional cigarette smokers, e-cigarette users, and never smokers. We found that traditional cigarette smokers and e-cigarette users discounted delayed rewards at a similar rate—and both were steeper than never smokers. However, no differences were observed in probability discounting or in perceived risk inherent in reward delay.

Comparison of delay discounting of different outcomes in cigarette smokers, smokeless tobacco users, e‐cigarette users, and non‐tobacco users

“…Several studies have shown that cigarette smokers discount delayed outcomes more steeply than nonsmokers for money (e.g., Bickel et al, 1999;Mitchell, 2004), food and entertainment (Friedel et al, 2014), and health (Friedel et al, 2016). Our data are consistent with these prior studies including previous work demonstrating that e-cigarette users discount money more than nonnicotine users (Białaszek et al, 2017). Importantly, we extended these differences between e-cigarette users and non-nicotine users to different nonmonetary outcomes.…”

“…Over the past decade, the tobacco product marketplace has become increasingly complex as the popularity of electronic cigarettes has grown (McMillen et al, 2014). Białaszek et al (2017) compared monetary delay discounting between cigarette smokers, e-cigarette users, and non-tobacco users. Cigarette smokers and e-cigarette users discounted similarly, and both groups showed steeper discounting than non-tobacco users.…”

Delay discounting and e-cigarette use: An investigation in current, former, and never cigarette smokers

“…However, somewhat contrary to these data, Białaszek et al (2017) reported that EC users and cigarette smokers both differed significantly from, and approximately equally by visual comparison, a never-using control group. Here, we note that smokers in Bialaszek et al’s study showed minimal dependence (mean FTCD score: 2, or “very low” dependence; Fagerstrom et al, 1992).…”

“…Because we were specifically interested in differences between individual EC and cigarette use subgroups to clarify prior mixed findings (Białaszek et al, 2017; Chivers et al, 2016; Weidberg et al, 2017), we also conducted planned pairwise comparisons of covariate-adjusted discount rates between individual subgroups. Sequential Bonferroni correction was used to maintain Type I error rate at the conventional level of α = .05.…”

“…This latter finding is consistent with a weaker role of discounting in EC use. However, in a second study, Białaszek et al (2017) reported that discounting in EC users was greater than in never smokers and undifferentiated from current smokers. Thus, whether discounting differs between EC users and those who use neither ECs nor cigarettes remains to be determined, as findings relevant to this question differed between the two studies.…”