Electronic Cigarettes as a Harm Reduction Strategy in Individuals With Substance Use Disorder

Electronic nicotine delivery devices often referred to as e-cigarettes, are battery-powered devices that deliver vaporized nicotine when inhaled. Corresponding with the growth in media attention, marketing and promotion, awareness and use of e-cigarettes has increased dramatically. A large proportion of those using e-cigarettes use them to reduce the number of cigarettes they are smoking or to help them quit. Use of an e-cigarette by smokers unwilling or unable to stop smoking completely might be a good approach to reducing cigarette consumption as the e-cigarette imitates some behavioral aspects of cigarette smoking and contains nicotine. Moreover, the few existing studies on the effect of e-cigarettes on tobacco withdrawal and craving suggest promising potential to assist smokers in coping with smoking urges and decreasing cigarette use.

Inclusion criteria

• smokes at least 10 cigarettes per day
• meet DSM-V AUD and/or OUD within the past year, interested in reducing CPDs
• able to provide consent
• use a cell phone, are willing/able to receive and respond to daily text messages regarding their cigarette use and e-cigarette use on their cell phone
• provide one additional contact, and are willing to use an e-cigarette for 3 weeks.

Exclusion criteria

• pregnant and/or breast feeding (self-reported)
• currently using smoking cessation medications (including other forms of NRT, buproprion, or varenicline)
• enrolled in a smoking cessation program or another cessation tria
• have used an e-cigarette in the past 14 days
• have used any other tobacco products (pipe, cigar, cigarillos, snuff, chewing tobacco, rolling tobacco, or hookah/shisha) in the past 30 days
• report having a history of asthma, other airways diseases, or heart disease.