The Importance of Conditioned Stimuli in Cigarette and E-Cigarette Craving Reduction by E-Cigarettes

Abstract

This study examined the impact of four variables pertaining to the use of e-cigarettes (e-cigs) on cravings for tobacco cigarettes and for e-cigs after an overnight abstinence period. The four variables were the nicotine level, the sensorimotor component, the visual aspect, and the aroma of the e-cig. In an experimental study, 81 participants without prior vaping experience first got acquainted with using e-cigs in a one-week tryout period, after which they participated in a lab session assessing the effect of five minutes of vaping following an abstinence period of 12 h. A mixed-effects model clearly showed the importance of nicotine in craving reduction. However, also non-nicotine factors, in particular the sensorimotor component, were shown to contribute to craving reduction. Handling cues interacted with the level (presence/absence) of nicotine: it was only when the standard hand-to-mouth action cues were omitted that the craving reducing effects of nicotine were observed. Effects of aroma or visual cues were not observed, or weak and difficult to interpret, respectively.

Varenicline Targets the Reinforcing-Enhancing Effect of Nicotine on Its Associated Salient Cue During Nicotine Self-administration in the Rat

“…Despite this, our results raise therapeutic implications. Increasing clinical and preclinical data suggests that smokers differ in the mechanisms that drive their nicotine-seeking (Garcia-Rivas and Deroche-Gamonet, 2019), with some smokers having stronger sensitivity to the primary reinforcing actions of nicotine (Hutchison et al, 2007; Esterlis et al, 2016), while others being more sensitive to the effects of nicotine on surrounding cues (Perkins, 2009; Perkins et al, 2017; Van Heel et al, 2017). Our results support individual variations in both nicotine reinforcing effects and nicotine-induced enhancement of cue reinforcing effects in the rat.…”

Initial ratings of different types of e-cigarettes and relationships between product appeal and nicotine delivery

“…Regarding flavours, individual preferences can change and vary widely (Cooper et al 2016 ; Dawkins et al 2013 ; Farsalinos et al 2013 ) but flavours influence EC use acutely (Litt et al 2016 ). In the only laboratory study evaluating user reactions that we are aware of, EC alleviated craving proportionally to their nicotine content (0, 24 or 36 mg/ml) when participants could not touch them (held in a clamp), but the discrimination was lost when they were held in hand (Van Heel et al 2017 ).…”

How do electronic cigarettes affect cravings to smoke or vape? Parsing the influences of nicotine and expectancies using the balanced-placebo design.

“…In addition, research has found that e-cigarette use reduces cravings to smoke and to vape, with mixed evidence regarding the role of nicotine per se (Dawkins, Turner, Hasna, & Soar, 2012; Perkins, Karelitz, & Michael, 2017). There is also some evidence that the sensorimotor aspects of vaping (i.e., its similarity to smoking behavior) contributes to craving reduction (Van Heel, Van Gucht, Vanbrabant, & Baeyens, 2017).…”