Abuse Liability of Electronic Cigarettes in Never-Smoking Electronic Cigarette Users

Modern pod-style electronic cigarette (ECIG) devices appear to have a high potential for abuse, though minimal laboratory-based work has evaluated the effects of these products among users of ECIGs without a history of cigarette smoking. Thus, this study compared the subjective and behavioral effects of pod-style ECIGs to nicotine gum in such a sample.

Young adult (Mage = 20.75 years, SD = 2.02) users of pod-style ECIGs (N = 16) completed three conditions that differed by product used: own ECIG, 4 mg nicotine gum, or placebo gum. Within sessions, participants abstained from nicotine/tobacco use overnight and then experienced two product use bouts separated by 60 minutes. Specifically, they either used their own ECIG ad libitum for 5 minutes or chewed the gum for 30 minutes. Before and/or after each bout, they completed subjective (eg, craving, product effects) and behavioral (multiple choice procedure) measures.

Significant decreases in intention to vape were observed from before to after use of ECIGs (p < .01) but not after 4 mg or placebo gum. Similarly, ratings of relief and satisfaction were significantly higher for ECIGs than for either gum dose at both bouts (p's < .01). The crossover point was higher for ECIGs than for gum, though differences were not significant.

Pod-style devices were more reinforcing than nicotine gum in a vulnerable population of users of ECIGs. There is a clear need for continued monitoring of these modern devices, which are known for containing high concentrations of nicotine and for being attractive to younger populations.

People with ECIG experience, but who have never regularly smoked cigarettes, represent a growing population of nicotine users. Results demonstrate that modern ECIG devices are more reinforcing than nicotine gum and therefore have a higher abuse liability for this vulnerable population.