About this trial
Tobacco-free oral nicotine pouches (such as Zyn brand) are a less harmful alternative to cigarette smoking. Pouches, however, contain nicotine, and addictive substance that is not risk-free. The present study is evaluating how well nicotine pouches, at different nicotine levels, help people switch away from smoking cigarettes. People who smoke cigarettes will be asked to answer questions about their tobacco product use and provide breath samples and cheek swab samples at an in-person visit to MUSC Charleston. Participants will then be provided with a 28-day supply of nicotine pouches, and will be asked to switch from smoking to pouches over the course of 4 weeks. Finally, participants will complete a final visit at MUSC, and will answer more questions about their tobacco use 1-month later.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Age 21+
current cigarette smoking (25+ days per previous month, 5 or more cigarettes/day, for greater than 1yr, greater than 100 lifetime cigarettes)
have not used TNFPs more than 5 times during their lifetime
willing and able to attend 2 in-person visits in Charleston (to assess biomarkers)
Disqualifiers
Lack of proficiency in English.
Use of other combustible tobacco products (i.e., cigars, cigarillos, hookahs) and/or other non-combusted nicotine/tobacco products (i.e., e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco) in the past 30 days.
Current use of smoking cessation medications (i.e., varenicline, bupropion, nicotine replacement therapy).
Use of marijuana within the past month, and unwillingness to abstain from marijuana during course of study.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- High Nicotine Dose
- Low Nicotine Dose
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
Medical University of South Carolina
Lead sponsor
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Collaborator