Effects of Tobacco Cut and Nicotine Form on the Abuse Liability of Moist Snuff

Overview

This clinical trial tests the effects of tobacco cut and nicotine form on the abuse liability in participants who use moist snuff (smokeless tobacco \[SLT\]). Two features of moist snuff that are key targets of manipulation from the tobacco industry and drivers of its addiction potential are length of tobacco cut (long versus fine) and nicotine form (low versus high levels of nicotine in the free-base form). Finer tobacco cuts and higher levels of free-base nicotine (FBN) result in faster, greater nicotine delivery. Researchers want to gain information on how certain characteristics of moist snuff affect how long people use it, how it delivers nicotine, or how much people like it. This clinical trial may provide justifications for local, state, or federal regulations aimed at reducing the appeal and addictiveness of moist snuff.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Estimate the association between style of moist snuff and SLT addiction among Ohio Appalachian adolescents and adults.

II. Characterize the carcinogen and free-base nicotine content of SLT products used by adolescents and adults with varying levels of SLT dependence in Ohio Appalachia.

III. Assess effects of moist snuff tobacco cut and FBN content on product use, effects, and appeal among Appalachian adults with high versus (vs.) low SLT dependence.

OUTLINE: Participants attend 5 study visits in a randomized order.

VISIT I: Participants use their usual brand of moist snuff on study. Participants also undergo blood sample collection and carbon monoxide testing on study.

VISIT II: Participants use low FBN long cut moist snuff on study. Participants also undergo blood sample collection and carbon monoxide testing on study.

VISIT III: Participants use low FBN fine cut moist snuff on study. Participants also undergo blood sample collection and carbon monoxide testing on study.

VISIT IV: Participants use high FBN long cut moist snuff on study. Participants also undergo blood sample collection and carbon monoxide testing on study.

VISIT V: Participants use high FBN fine cut moist snuff on study. Participants also undergo blood sample collection and carbon monoxide testing on study.

Interventions

• Procedure Biospecimen Collection
  Undergo blood sample collection
• Procedure Carbon Monoxide Measurement
  Undergo CO test
• Behavioral Smokeless Tobacco Use
  Use moist snuff
• Other Survey Administration
  Ancillary studies

Primary outcome measures

• Frequencies of flavors used by participants [Time frame: Up to 2 years]
• Associations between tobacco cut (fine, long, and pouches) and level of smokeless tobacco (SLT) dependence [Time frame: Up to 2 years]
• Associations between level of dependence and total nicotine in moist snuff [Time frame: Up to 2 years]
• Associations between level of dependence and pH in moist snuff [Time frame: Up to 2 years]
• Associations between level of dependence and free-base nicotine (FBN) in moist snuff [Time frame: Up to 2 years]
• Moist snuff tobacco cut on product use [Time frame: Up to 2 years]
• Moist snuff tobacco FBN content on product use [Time frame: Up to 2 years]
• Moist snuff tobacco cut on product effects [Time frame: Up to 2 years]
• Moist snuff tobacco FBN content on product effects [Time frame: Up to 2 years]
• Moist snuff tobacco cut on product appeal [Time frame: Up to 2 years]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• AIM 1 (Adults Tobacco User Adult Cohort \[TUAC\]): Exclusive adult smokers who smoked >100 cigarettes or other combustible tobacco products in their lifetime and reported being current, every day, or some days/week smokers at time of enrollment
• AIM 1 (TUAC): Exclusive SLT user reporting every day or some days use per week at time of enrollment
• AIM 1 (TUAC): Or dual users who met criteria for both aims at time of enrollment who resided in participating Appalachian and urban counties
• AIM 1 (Buckeye Teen Health Study \[BTHS\]): Male youth ages 12-15 in Appalachian and urban regions of Ohio with parental consent and participant assent given
• AIM 2: As derived from Aim 1, commercially available SLT products used by TUAC and BTHS participants will be purchased from retailers in nearby Appalachian counties, as composition of SLT products can vary regionally
• AIM 3: Adults aged 21 and older who reside in Appalachian counties and surrounding rural areas under the RUCA code 10 classification and use SLT daily for at least 3 months and using 1.5 cans/week will be considered for this project
• Established moist snuff user (has used moist snuff daily for at least the past 3 months, uses at least 1.5 cans/week.
• Age 21 years or older
• Reside in Appalachian counties and surrounding rural areas under the RUCA code 10 classification
• Willing to complete 5 study visits and provide informed consent study procedures, including abstaining from all tobacco, nicotine, and marijuana for 12 hours before clinic visits
• Willing to abstain from nicotine and tobacco products 12-hours before study visit
• Ability to read and speak English

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding (will be verified with a urine pregnancy test at the first session visit)
• Unstable or significant psychiatric conditions (past and stable conditions will be allowed)
• History of cardiac event or distress, including but not limited to uncontrolled high blood pressure, chest pain, and shortness of breath, within the past 3 months
• Working with a cessation counselor, using cessation devices such as Chantix or Wellbutrin, or planning to quit within the next 3 months
• Severe periodontal or oral lesions

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Crossover

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Prevention

Study locations

United States · 2 centers

• Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center — Columbus
• Center for Tobacco Research — Columbus

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06249984 · OSU-22228 · NCI-2023-01289 · K01DA055696

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗