Impact of smoking reduced nicotine content cigarettes on sensitivity to cigarette price: further results from a multi‐site clinical trial

Abstract

Aims To assess the impact of a reduction in the nicotine content of cigarettes on estimated consumption of reduced nicotine cigarettes and usual brand cigarettes at a variety of hypothetical prices. Design Double blind study with participants randomly assigned to receive cigarettes for six weeks that were either usual brand or an investigational cigarette with one of five nicotine contents. Setting Ten sites across the United States Participants 839 eligible adult smokers randomized from 2013 to 2014 Intervention and comparator Participants received their usual brand or an investigational cigarette with one of five nicotine contents: 15.8 (primary control), 5.2, 2.4, 1.3, or 0.4 mg/g. Measurements The Cigarette Purchase Task completed at Baseline and at Week 6 post-randomization visit. Findings Compared with normal nicotine content controls, the lowest nicotine content (0.4 mg/g) reduced the number of study cigarettes participants estimated they would smoke at a range of prices (mean reduction relative to 15.8 mg/g at a price of $4.00/pack: 9.5, 95% CI: 5.61,12.19). The lowest nicotine content also reduced the maximum amount of money allocated to study cigarettes and the price at which participants reported they would stop buying study cigarettes [median reduction relative to 15.8 mg/g (95% CI): $8.21 (4.27,12.15) per day and, and $0.44 (0.17,0.71) per cigarette, respectively]. A reduction in nicotine content to the lowest level also reduced the maximum amount of money allocated to usual brand cigarettes (median reduction relative to 15.8 mg/g: $4.39 per day, 95% CI: 1.88,6.90). Conclusions In current smokers, a reduction in nicotine content may reduce cigarette consumption, reduce the reinforcement value of cigarettes, and increase cessation if reduced-nicotine content cigarettes were the only cigarette available for purchase.

Experimental manipulations of behavioral economic demand for addictive commodities: a meta‐analysis

“…A subgroup of studies were eligible, but data were unavailable . Further, several studies did not fit into a manipulation category with enough effect sizes and were thus not included . Each study reported an average sample size of 68.94 (range = 7–328; aggregate sample = 2402).…”

Initial Development of an E-cigarette Purchase Task: A Mixed Methods Study

“…To compare intensity across e-cigarette users in the current sample and intensity generated by smokers of traditional cigarettes, we can assume that 100 puffs of a traditional cigarette, assuming 10 puffs per cigarette, would be equivalent to 10 cigarettes; which is generally lower than the number of cigarettes smokers would purchase at price 0. 26,27 In contrast, the reported Omax for the current group is somewhat higher than what has been reported for cigarette smokers. 28 This may reflect a lower intensity of demand but lesser price sensitivity relative to cigarettes; or it may reflect a limitation of the instrument.…”

Effects of varenicline versus transdermal nicotine replacement therapy on cigarette demand on quit day in individuals with substance use disorders

“…While no participant demonstrated an invariant response pattern at baseline, 30 participants did so on Quit Day including 29 participants who reported no demand (i.e., reported they would smoke zero cigarettes at every cigarette price including $0). As these responses were believed to reflect change in demand for cigarettes rather than low effort responding, these participants were not excluded from analyses (Smith et al 2016). Given the large proportion of individuals reporting no cigarette purchases on Quit Day (i.e., invariant responders), elasticity of demand could only be validly calculated at baseline.…”