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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05881304

Switching Individuals in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Who Smoke Cigarettes to the SREC

The goal of this study is to conduct a pilot randomized waitlist-controlled trial to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of substituting the NIDA standardized research e-cigarette (SREC) for combusted cigarettes in MOUD-TUD who are not ready to quit smoking. A waitlist controlled RCT using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design will investigate the impact of SREC provision on: 1) tobacco use behavior (e.g., cigarettes per day [primary outcome], SREC use), 2) biomarkers (e.g., carbon monoxide, anabasine), 3) cigarette dependence and withdrawal, and 4) short-term health effects and tolerability (e.g., respiratory symptoms, substance use). In the proposed RCT, N=40 adults stable on MOUD with buprenorphine who report daily smoking recruited from MGH primary care practices will be randomly assigned to receive the SREC for 8 weeks, either immediately (iSREC), or after an 8-week delay (waitlist control [WLC]). They will be followed an additional 4 weeks after SREC provision ends (to 12 weeks in iSREC and 20 weeks in WLC).

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Key information

Conditions

Electronic Cigarette Use Behavior Smoking Vaping

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years of age
  • Report daily cigarette smoking (>=10 cigarettes per day in the past week)
  • Not ready to quit smoking (not planning to quit in the next 30 days)
  • Willing to try e-cigarettes
  • In stable buprenorphine (BUP) treatment for opioid use disorder at an Massachusetts General Hospital-affiliated primary care clinic (in treatment for >=3 months without changes in BUP dose in the past 2 weeks and planning to remain on current BUP treatment for >=3 months).

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Using non-cigarette nicotine or tobacco products (e.g., e-cigarettes, cigarillos) recently (>3 days in past 30 days)
  • Report past 30-day use of behavioral or pharmacologic smoking cessation aids
  • Deemed inappropriate for participation by their OUD provider
  • Have an unstable psychiatric (e.g., past month suicidal ideation, active psychosis) or medical condition (e.g., life expectancy <1 year).

Treatment and study plan

Standardized research e-cigarette (SREC)

Device

Patients will be provided with NIDA's standardized research electronic cigarette (SREC) for 8-weeks and asked to attempt to substitute the SREC for combusted cigarettes during the 8 weeks. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to 1 of 2 conditions for 8 weeks: 1) immediate standardized research e-cigarette provision (iSREC) or 2) delayed SREC provision waitlist control (WLC). Those randomized to the iSREC group will be provided a free 8-week supply of SRECs and asked to try to switch completely to the SREC. Those in the WLC condition will receive SREC provision after an 8-week delay.

Other names: SREC

Primary outcomes

  1. Cigarettes smoked per day

    Time frame: Baseline 2 to 8 weeks

    Change in cigarettes smoked per day (CPD) between randomized groups. Change in mean number of CPD in the past 7 days from Baseline 2 to Week 8 comparing between randomized groups (iSREC group vs. WLC).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Study enrollment

    Time frame: Baseline

    Proportion of those screened identified as eligible. Proportion of those identified as eligible at screening who enroll in trial.

  2. E-cigarette use during e-cigarette provision

    Time frame: During the 8 weeks of e-cigarette provision

    Mean days of e-cigarette use in past 7 days. 1) Number of days of e-cigarette use in past 7 days at Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 between randomized groups, and 2) number of days of e-cigarette use in the past 7 days in a pre-post analysis that combines randomized groups

  3. Breath carbon monoxide

    Time frame: Baseline 1-Week 8

    Change in expired air carbon monoxide (CO)- during e-cigarette provision. Change in expired air CO (ppm) from Baseline to Week 8 between randomized groups.

  4. Anabasine

    Time frame: Baseline 1-Week 8

    Change in anabasine - during e-cigarette provision. Change in urine anabasine level (ng/ml)from Baseline 1 to Week 8 between randomized groups.

  5. Study completion

    Time frame: Baseline 2-12 weeks for iSREC (Baseline 2-20 weeks for WLC)

    Proportion of patients who complete the trial, defined as completing the final follow-up assessment (12 weeks for iSREC and 20 weeks for WLC) and >=50% of the study visits.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Registry information

Acronym: SWITCHED

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
May 31, 2023
Registry last updated
May 29, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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