Pilot Study of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Cessation Methods

Abstract

Currently, 7.6% of the U.S. young adults aged 18–24 years old use e-cigarettes. This study piloted three methods of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) cessation by measuring cessation rates, motivational techniques that contributed to cessation success, and participants’ changes after decreasing vape use. Participants were randomized into three study arms (nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) + behavioral support, vape-taper + behavioral support, self-guided) in a 1:1:1 ratio. All participants were invited to attend nine in-person or phone appointments over the 6-month study period. At 12 weeks, 3 of 7 (42.9%) participants in the NRT + behavioral support arm, 6 of 8 (75%) vape-taper + behavioral support arm, and 7 of 9 (77.8%) self-guided arm self-reported being vape-free and nicotine-free. At 6 months, 3 of 7 (42.9%) participants in the NRT + behavioral support arm, 6 of 8 (75%) vape-taper + behavioral support arm, and 4 of 9 (44.4%) self-guided arm self-reported being vape-free and nicotine-free. A challenge to quitting and remain quit is social pressures, but participants identified self-control and establishing new habits to be the best methods to overcome the desire to vape. Participants who received behavioral support and a vape-taper plan from pharmacists were more likely to be vape-free and nicotine-free at 6 months.

A randomized controlled trial of varenicline and brief behavioral counseling delivered by lay counselors for adolescent vaping cessation: Study protocol

“…There are few published studies of behavioral or pharmacologic approaches for adolescent vaping cessation ( 45 , 64 , 65 ). Because varenicline has been found to be consistently more effective than other pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation in adults and has demonstrated encouraging secondary abstinence outcomes in two adolescent smoking cessation randomized controlled trials ( 33 , 34 ), we will conduct a rigorous three-armed randomized controlled trial in nicotine dependent adolescents of biochemically validated vaping abstinence with varenicline, combined with brief, lay counselor delivered behavioral counseling and texting support ( 27 , 29 , 30 , 33 ).…”

Intentions and Attempts to Quit JUUL E-Cigarette Use: The Role of Perceived Harm and Addiction

“…Reported quit importance was highest in the third and final survey time point, which occurred in April 2020, after the e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI) outbreak that began in July 2019 and resolution of its cause (ie, black market tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] products contaminated with vitamin E acetate) in February 2020 (25). We did not measure exposure to EVALI information; however, we suspect that the increased media attention to the potential harms of e-cigarettes in late 2019 may have contributed to the increased quit importance in the survey data collected in January 2020.…”

“…Empirically supported treatments of e-cigarette cessation are lacking. A pilot trial showed promise for nicotine replacement therapy, tapering use, and self-guided methods for e-cigarette cessation among young adults ( 26 ). A randomized clinical trial among more than 2,000 young adult e-cigarette users found better cessation rates in a text-messaging program (24.1%) than in an assessment-only control condition after 7 months (18.6%) ( 27 ).…”

Puff bars: a dangerous trend in adolescent disposable e-cigarette use

“…A pilot study of three different methods of e-cigarette cessation in current e-cigarette users explored the effectiveness of NRT and behavioral support, vape-taper and behavioral support, and self-guided cessation methods. Researchers determined that all methods demonstrated some effectiveness for e-cigarette and nicotine cessation, and that those in the vape-taper and behavioral arm were more likely to have stopped vape and nicotine use at 6 months [41].…”