Effects of Smoking Environment on Craving and Smoking

Effects of Smoking Environment on Craving and Smoking: A Pilot Study

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of exposure to standard smoking environments on ability to resist smoking as measured with a Delay to Smoking Task. The results of this study will inform whether the Delay to Smoking Task is a sensitive measure for evaluating environment-provoked craving and smoking behavior.

Adult smokers (n=25) will complete 4 visits and a 6 month follow-up phone call. Participants will complete a Delay to Smoking Task following 6 hours smoking abstinence. The task involves viewing pictures of smoking and non-smoking locations and participants will have the choice to smoke a cigarette at any time during the session. A monetary reinforcer will be provided for each 6-minute period that a participant resists smoking. Once participants stop the task they can choose to smoke as much or a little as they want for the next 30 minutes. Participants will be provided with a smoking tab. Each cigarette they light will cost them from their tab. Measurements of tobacco craving, emotion ratings, and nicotine withdrawal will be assessed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• generally healthy
• between the ages of 18 and 55
• smoking an average of 5 cigarettes per day for at least one year
• breath CO level > 8 ppm (if ≤ 8 ppm, then NicAlert Strip = 6)
• no interest in quitting smoking for the duration of time required for the experiment

Exclusion Criteria:

• inability to attend all required experimental sessions
• use of psychoactive medications
• use of smokeless tobacco
• current alcohol or drug abuse
• use of illegal drugs as measured by urine drug screen (excluding marijuana)
• current use of nicotine replacement therapy or other smoking cessation treatment
• Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) > 0.00
• use of other tobacco products or e-cigarettes more than 9 days in the past 30 days