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Klemperer EM, et al. A factorial randomized clinical trial of nicotine replacement therapy and treatment recommendations to quit vs continue e-cigarettes when quitting smoking in young adult dual users, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 31 May 2025, ntaf119, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaf119

Despite increases in dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes among young adults, there is a notable lack of research on smoking cessation treatments. This factorial randomized clinical trial investigated the effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation with recommendations to quit vs continue using e-cigarettes during smoking cessation treatment among young adults who dually use cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Findings indicate that NRT is effective in achieving early cigarette abstinence in this population and suggest the strongest effects may be achieved among those who receive NRT combined with support to quit rather than continue using e-cigarettes during treatment.

Note: The effectiveness of NRT and treatment recommendations versus continuing e-cigarette use for cessation in adult dual users is demonstrated.

TRC Research Commentary

Courtney KE, et al. Initial Subjective Response to Nicotine Vaping Predicts Subsequent E-Cigarette Use in Early Adolescence: An ABCD Investigation, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 29 May 2025, ntaf116, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaf116

“Differences in sensitivity to substances are essential for understanding variability in addiction propensity. The value of modeling subjective response to nicotine, particularly e-cigarettes, at first use as a predictor of future use remains largely untested.

This secondary analysis of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study data included 147 youth (51% female; mean age = 13 at first assessment) who reported vaping an e-cigarette and provided subjective responses to that experience during the 4 years of baseline and annual follow-up data currently available. Analyses evaluated the longitudinal relationships between subjective response to vaping and subsequent annual e-cigarette episodes (i.e., quantity) and use days (i.e., frequency) using semi-parametric Bayesian mixture models.

Greater pleasurable sensations to vaping at first use predicted greater past-year e-cigarette use for all participants, with youth endorsing higher use exhibiting stronger relationships.

These findings suggest that initial subjective response to nicotine vaping in youth is a strong predictor of e-cigarette use behavior up to four years later, particularly in those endorsing higher use. This knowledge can be used to enhance early prevention efforts to reduce e-cigarette use in this vulnerable population.”

Comment: Assessing the initial subjective response of the very young to e-cigarette use may provide one means of identifying risk and intervening to prevent later e-cigarette use.

Stephen Hamann