Cooling Agent Pilot Among Adult Menthol Smokers

The Food and Drug Administration has been considering a potential federal restriction on menthol as a characterizing flavor in combustible cigarettes, a policy that would likely significantly reduce tobacco related disparities among Black adults who smoke menthol cigarette. However, in states where this policy has been enacted and menthol cigarettes are off the market, the tobacco industry has circumvented the restriction by introducing new non-menthol cigarettes that include WS-3, a chemical that acts as a cooling agent but without use of menthol. Our team is interested in understanding the extent to which WS-3 undermines a potential future menthol ban and the impact on the reduction in cigarettes smoked, particularly among Black adults who smoke.

The overall objective of this application is to obtain effect sizes and establish feasibility for an upcoming R01 submission. Specific aims include: Aim1: Determine the change in total cigarettes per day (CPD) when using menthol cigarettes, WS-3 cigarettes, and traditional non-menthol cigarettes. The primary comparison is between WS-3 and traditional non-menthol cigarettes. Aim 2: Understand the comparative abuse liability during ad libitum use of menthol cigarettes, WS-3 synthetic cooling agent cigarettes, and traditional non-menthol cigarettes. The study intervention involves providing study participants, who are all adult current smokers with no intention to quit or alter their cigarette smoking, with either menthol cigarettes, WS-3 synthetic cooling agent cigarettes, or traditional non-menthol cigarettes. All study products are commercially available. Participants will report on their usual number of cigarettes per day and will be provided a commensurate amount of study cigarettes to allow them to make a complete switch to the study product for the duration of the 6 week research study.

Inclusion criteria

• Current cigarette smoker
• Smoke at least 5 cigarettes per day
• Smoke on at least 25 of the past 30 days
• Smoke menthol cigarettes for at least 1 year
• At least 21 years old
• Willing to try a product switch for 3 weeks and be followed for 6 weeks
• Willing to not use marijuana in place of the study product
• Willing to refrain from other tobacco product use for 3 weeks during the study
• Speak and understand English
• Willing to provide informed consent
• Own cell or landline phone
• Have reliable transportation
• Plan to remain in the Kansas City area for the full duration of the study (6 weeks)
• Bring pack of menthol cigarettes to W0 study visit

Exclusion criteria

• E-cigarette use on greater than 4 of the past 30 days
• Other tobacco product use on greater than 4 of the past 30 days
• Interested in quitting smoking (i.e., setting a quit date) in the next 30 day
• Current use of cessation medications
• Household member currently or previously enrolled in the study
• Currently pregnant
• Unable to provide informed consent