Oral Nicotine Pouches Versus Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Reduce Cigarette Use for Smokers in Rural Appalachia

Testing Oral Nicotine Pouches to Reduce Smoking-Related Cancer in Rural Appalachia

This clinical trial compares the use of oral nicotine pouches to nicotine replacement therapy, consisting of nicotine patches and lozenges, to reduce cigarette use in smokers living in rural Appalachia. The lung and oral cancers that plague Appalachia are fueled by cigarette smoking. Oral nicotine pouches which contain nicotine but no tobacco leaf, present a new opportunity to reduce cancer risk among Appalachian adults who smoke. Oral nicotine pouches and nicotine replacement therapy may work well to reduce cigarette use for smokers in rural Appalachia.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Evaluate short-term changes in cigarette smoking patterns, including switching, abstinence from cigarettes, and frequency of smoking between oral nicotine patches (ONPs) and NRT.

II. Compare product appeal, craving, withdrawal relief, and perceived cigarette dependence between ONPs and NRT.

III. Examine sustained changes in tobacco use behaviors, including abstinence from cigarettes, purchase of ONPs/NRT, and continued use of ONPs/NRT.

OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I:

SAMPLING PHASE: Participants receive 2 concentrations of three different flavors of oral nicotine pouches. Participants use the products ad libitum, starting with the lowest concentration, to determine their preferred concentration and flavor, over 2 weeks.

SWITCH PHASE: Participants receive their preferred oral nicotine pouches and use them in place of cigarettes for 12 weeks.

Participants complete surveys and have their carbon monoxide levels measured at various points throughout the study.

OBSERVATION PHASE: After completion of the intervention, participants complete a final follow-up survey, along with a carbon monoxide measure, 14 weeks after the intervention ends.

ARM II:

SAMPLING PHASE: Participants receive 2 different strengths of nicotine replacement therapy patches and 2 different strengths and 3 different flavors of nicotine replacement therapy lozenges. Participants use the products ad libitum, starting with the lowest concentration, to determine their preferred concentration and flavor, over 2 weeks.

SWITCH PHASE: Participants receive their preferred nicotine patches and lozenges and use them in place of cigarettes for 12 weeks.

Participants complete surveys and have their carbon monoxide levels measured at various points throughout the study.

OBSERVATION PHASE: After completion of intervention, participants complete a final follow-up survey, along with a carbon monoxide measure, 14 weeks after the intervention ends.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Read and speak English
• 21 years or older
• Smoke ≥ 5 cigarettes per day for the past year
• Willing to use Oral Nicotine Pouches (ONP) or Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
• Live in a rural Appalachian County
• Have a smartphone and/or willing to use a smartphone for study purposes (smartphones may be provided to participants for study purposes only)
• Willing to blow air into a handheld study device
• If capable of becoming pregnant, verbal confirmation of not being pregnant based on urine pregnancy test results

Exclusion Criteria:

• Report currently using smoking cessation medications, NRT, or actively seeking treatment for smoking cessation
• Use of ONPs in past 3 months
• Use of Nicotine Replacement Therapies in past 3 months
• Use of other tobacco products > 10 days/month
• Unstable or significant medical condition
• Unstable or significant psychiatric conditions (past and stable conditions will be allowed)
• History of cardiac event or distress within the past 3 months
• Live in same household as another study participant.
• Currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant within 6 months, or breastfeeding