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. 2022 Feb:125:107160.
doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107160. Epub 2021 Oct 19.

The experimental tobacco marketplace: Effects of low-ventilated cigarette exposure

Roberta Freitas-Lemos  1 , Allison N Tegge  2 , Jeffrey S Stein  1 , William Brady DeHart  1 , Sarah A Reisinger  3 , Peter G Shields  3 , Dorothy K Hatsukami  4 , Warren K Bickel  5
Affiliations

The experimental tobacco marketplace: Effects of low-ventilated cigarette exposure

Roberta Freitas-Lemos et al. Addict Behav. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: Regulating filter ventilation will change the relative reinforcing value of products resulting in nicotine/tobacco users facing the explore/exploit dilemma (ie, choice between unfamiliar and familiar options). This study examined the effects of price increases in higher-ventilated cigarettes (HVCs) and exposure to lower-ventilated cigarettes (LVCs) on explore/exploit patterns of tobacco-product purchasing in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace (ETM).

Methods: HVC smokers (N = 20) completed one assessment session and 3 ETM sessions separated by weeks of at-home LVC exposure. In each ETM session, participants made 7-days of tobacco-product purchases as HVCs price increased across trials.

Results: Prohibitive prices of HVC decreased the likelihood of HVCs purchases and increased the likelihood of LVC purchases. Initial exposure (week 1) to LVC reduced the number of cigarettes purchased when HVC prices were high and increased exploration of alternative tobacco products. Successive exposure to LVC (repeated access in weeks 2,5,6,9,10) decreased likelihood of HVCs and alternative product purchases and increased the likelihood of LVCs purchases.

Conclusions: Regulating filter ventilation may initially increase exploration of alternative tobacco products but lead to exploitation of LVCs over time. Tobacco control strategies should take advantage of this transition period when smokers seek information on unfamiliar products to implement harm reduction strategies.

Keywords: Explore/exploit trade-off; Filter ventilation; Health risk; Tobacco marketplace; Tobacco regulation.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Scheme describing lab sessions, ETM sessions, at-home product use, and time periods. Note; During weeks 2, 6, and 10, participants were provided with the products they purchased in the ETM to use at home. HVCs, LVCs and alternative tobacco products (ie, snus, gum, lozenge, dip and nicotine vaping product) were available to purchase in the ETM. During weeks 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9, participants were provided with HVCs and LVCs to use at home.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(a) Predicted probability of purchasing LVCs and HVCs plus/minus one standard error as a function of HVC price (in US dollars), shown in log scale on the x-axis, across Sessions 1, 2 and 3. (b) Predicted probability of purchasing alternative tobacco products plus/minus one standard error as a function of HVC price, shown in log scale on the x-axis, across Sessions 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
(a) Proportion of budget spent in cigarettes as a function of 5 HVC prices (in US dollars) across Sessions 1, 2 and 3. (b) Total quantity of cigarettes purchased as a function of 5 HVC prices across Sessions 1, 2 and 3.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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