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Clinical Trial
. 2016 May;18(5):1157-62.
doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntv267. Epub 2015 Dec 28.

An Open Trial of Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation Among Methadone-Maintained Smokers

Michael D Stein  1 , Celeste Caviness  2 , Kristin Grimone  2 , Daniel Audet  2 , Bradley J Anderson  2 , Genie L Bailey  3
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

An Open Trial of Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation Among Methadone-Maintained Smokers

Michael D Stein et al. Nicotine Tob Res. 2016 May.

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking cessation pharmacotherapies tested in persons with opioid use disorder have produced low quit rates. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been used by many methadone-maintained (MMT) smokers, but controlled trials evaluating cessation and reduction outcomes have not been performed in this population with deleterious tobacco-related health consequences.

Methods: In this open trial of NJOY e-cigarettes, MMT smokers received 6 weeks of treatment and were instructed to use only e-cigarettes. Outcomes included carbon monoxide confirmed 7-day point smoking cessation prevalence at week 7 (end of treatment) and self-reported change in mean cigarettes per day (CPD) at each 2-week assessment. The final assessment was 2 weeks after treatment ended (week 9).

Results: The 12 participants averaged 46 years old and 50% were male. On average, participants reported smoking 17.8 (±5.3) CPD. One person had a biochemically confirmed quit at week 7. Participants tended to report marked reductions in mean CPD between quit day (week 1) and the week 3 assessment. Relative to baseline, statistically significant reductions in mean CPD were observed at all follow-up assessments. Mean reductions in CPD were -12.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -15.0, -9.9; P < .001), -14.8 (95% CI: -17.4, -12.2; P < .001), -13.9 (95% CI: -16.6, -11.2), and -10.8 (95% CI: -13.4, -8.2; P < .01) at the 3-, 5-, 7-, and 9-week assessments, respectively. Adherence to e-cigarettes was 89.1% during the 6 treatment weeks.

Conclusions: E-cigarettes were associated with reductions in cigarette use. Smoking cessation rates in MMT smokers are low and whether long-term smoking reductions can persist and produce health benefits should be studied.

Implications: E-cigarettes were associated with reduced tobacco use in MMT smokers. Adherence to e-cigarettes is high among methadone smokers. Week-7 smoking quit rates are similar to pharmacotherapies tested in this population.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Change in mean cigarettes/day.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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