Response to Reduced Nicotine Content in Vulnerable Populations: Effect of Menthol Status.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we investigated potential effects of being a menthol smoker on response to reduced nicotine content (RNC) cigarettes in smokers especially vulnerable to smoking.

METHOD

Participants were 169 smokers (61 menthol and 108 non-menthol smokers) with comorbid mental illness, substance use disorder, or socioeconomic disadvantage. Participants completed a double-blind study assessing addiction potential, withdrawal/craving, and compensatory smoking across 4 research cigarettes varying in nicotine content from very low levels to commercial levels (0.4, 2.4, 5.2, 15.8mg/g of tobacco). Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine potential moderating effects of menthol status.

RESULTS

Statistically significant effects of nicotine dose were noted across measures, with higher doses producing greater economic demand and relief from withdrawal/craving. The relationships between nicotine dose and response to RNC cigarettes do not differ by menthol status.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study suggest menthol does not have a differential impact on response to RNC cigarettes across measures of economic demand, withdrawal/craving, or smoking topography. These results suggest that any potential beneficial effects of RNC cigarettes should extend to menthol smokers including those especially vulnerable to smoking.