AATP Journals

A comprehensive review on oral nicotine pouches: Available scientific evidence and future research needs. Oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) are an emergent class of tobacco products that, unlike conventional oral smokeless tobacco products, contain a nicotine powder instead of tobacco leaves. This review synthesizes available data on ONPs in key research domains including survey studies, marketing/advertising studies, chemical characterization and in vitro studies, and clinical studies. Research findings relevant for ONP regulations are summarized, including who uses these products and why, how marketing tactics influence appeal and use intentions, what harmful and potentially harmful constituents they contain, and what acute effects they have on humans. Taken together, the current data suggest that ONPs likely produce less harm to individual users than conventional tobacco products (e.g., moist snuff, cigarettes) and can acutely suppress nicotine/tobacco withdrawal symptoms among current cigarette smokers. Thus, ONPs may be a viable harm reduction option for individuals who switch completely to using them from conventional products. However, randomized controlled trials are needed to determine if established tobacco users would use ONPs long term, and more independent academic research is needed given that most ONP studies to date are tobacco industry-funded. Additionally, ONPs have qualities (e.g., flavors, marketing claims of “tobacco free”) that could increase appeal among youth and young adults, and these products can deliver nicotine at levels sufficient to cause dependence; widespread adoption of ONPs among otherwise nicotine-naive individuals may reduce their net public health benefit. This review concludes by suggesting future research directions necessary to increase scientific understanding of ONPs and inform regulations for these increasingly popular products. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Evaluating the human abuse potential of concurrent use of electronic cigarettes and low nicotine cigarettes among adults who smoke. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated its intention to reduce the nicotine content of combustible cigarettes to render them less addictive. This study evaluated the impact of providing adults who smoke with both very low nicotine content cigarettes (VLNCCs) and electronic cigarettes (ECs) of varying nicotine content on measures of human abuse potential. Participants (n = 213) were adult combustible cigarette users. They smoked their usual brand cigarettes (UBCs) during Phase 1 (baseline; week 1) and were provided with and encouraged to exclusively use VLNCCs during Phase 2 (weeks 2–4). During dual-product Phases 3 (weeks 5–7) and 4 (weeks 8–10), participants received both VLNCCs and ECs (assigned to one of two EC devices in higher or lower nicotine concentrations and choice of flavor), with instructions to use them freely in Phases 3 and 4. Assessments included product use, exposure, acceptability, risk perception, and withdrawal-related measures. Results indicated that participants used significantly fewer UBCs during the VLNCC and dual-product phases and smoked fewer VLNCCs during the dual-product phases than the VLNCC-only phase. Neither EC liquid nicotine concentration nor flavor influenced product use. The three study product phases resulted in less product liking and more withdrawal symptoms than the UBC phase. These results suggest that adults who smoke are able to switch much of their tobacco product use from UBCs to VLNCCs and will substitute combustible UBCs and VLNCCs with noncombustible nicotine-containing ECs, but most remain dual users, at least in the short term. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Racial and ethnic differences in topography and subjective effects among young adults in response to smoking their usual brand menthol or nonmenthol cigarette. Menthol smoking, which is popular among Black and Hispanic individuals who smoke and young adults, is linked to positive subjective effects and difficulty quitting, although studies of topography and subjective effects show inconsistent differences. This study compared subjective effects and laboratory smoking across menthol and nonmenthol young adults who smoke and examined differences by race/ethnicity. Smoking topography, subjective effects, and pre/postsmoking craving, vitals, cigarette weight, and exhaled carbon monoxide were assessed in 121 young adults who smoke (M_age = 23.9; 49.5% menthol; 37.2% non-White) following ≥12 hr of abstinence. Participants smoked their usual brand cigarette (menthol or nonmenthol) in a single laboratory session. Differences in study outcomes were examined across cigarette flavor and by race/ethnicity (White vs. non-White). No main effects of cigarette flavor or race/ethnicity emerged on any study outcomes. Interactions of cigarette flavor with race/ethnicity emerged on postsmoking craving and cigarette weight, controlling for presmoking measures of the outcome and cigarettes per day. Compared to non-White participants who smoked nonmenthol cigarettes, non-White participants who smoked menthol cigarettes had higher postsmoking cigarette weight and lower postsmoking craving. Further, non-White participants who smoked menthol cigarettes had lower postsmoking craving compared to White participants who smoked menthol cigarettes. Non-White young adults who smoke menthols experienced greater craving reduction, despite consuming less of their preferred cigarette. Craving reduction may be one mechanism fostering continued menthol smoking. Menthol smoking, even at lower amounts, produces similar toxicant exposure, which may contribute to tobacco health disparities as smoking progresses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Racism and cannabis-related problems among Black adults who smoke cigarettes: The role of negative emotions in responses to experiencing racism. Black Americans who use cannabis appear at greater risk for negative cannabis-related outcomes, and cannabis use is more common among individuals who smoke cigarettes. Race-based health disparities concerning cannabis outcomes indicate a need to identify psycho-socio-cultural factors that may play a role in cannabis use and related problems among Black Americans to inform prevention and treatment efforts. Minority stress-based models posit that stressors such as racism increase negative emotions, which may be associated with using substances such as cannabis to cope with negative emotions. Yet, no known research has directly assessed whether negative emotions experienced in response to racism play a role in cannabis-related behaviors. Participants were 254 (50.2% female) Black Americans who endorsed current cigarette smoking and were aged 18–73 (M = 42.1, SD = 14.1). Participants completed an online survey regarding their experiences with racism, smoking, and cannabis-related behaviors. Negative emotions in response to racism were assessed via the Racial Trauma Scale (RTS). Experiencing more frequent racism was related to greater RTS and cannabis-related problems. When entered simultaneously, frequency of racism was related to more cannabis-related problems via RTS, but not anxiety or depression broadly. Racism was related to more cannabis problems via the sequential effects of RTS and a greater quantity of cannabis used. These data indicate that the experience of negative emotions that occur after experiencing racism may play an important role in cannabis misuse among Black Americans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Alcohol-related stimuli disrupt inhibitory control in heavy but not light drinkers in a crowdsourced sample. The association between inhibitory control and alcohol use has been well established. However, studies comparing the effects of alcohol cues on disinhibition in heavy and light drinkers have reported mixed results. The present study used a crowdsourcing platform, Prolific, to assess the effects of alcohol-related cues on inhibitory control in light drinkers versus heavy drinkers. Eligible participants were categorized as light or heavy drinkers based on National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism classifications. Participants (43 women and 65 men) then completed the Attentional Bias–Behavioral Activation task to assess inhibitory control. Subjects were randomized to either an alcohol or neutral-go condition. Inhibitory failures (IF) were measured as pressing a key when the assigned go cue was presented before the no-go cue. Analyses revealed a significant Drinking Status × Condition interaction, F(1, 99) = 5.656, p = .019, η_p² = 0.054. IF were greater in the alcohol-go compared to the neutral-go condition for heavy drinkers, t(46) = −1.848, p = .036, d = 0.538, but not light drinkers (p = .226, d = 0.197). Additionally, heavy drinkers had more IF than light drinkers in the alcohol-go condition, t(55) = −2.152, p = .018, d = 0.571, but not in the neutral-go condition (p = .266, d = 0.180). Results demonstrated that alcohol images disrupt inhibitory control in heavy drinkers but not light drinkers. The results from the present study extend research by using a crowdsourcing platform to replicate findings of disinhibition in heavy drinkers but not in light drinkers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Event-level influences of alcohol, cannabis, and simultaneous use on perceived driving risk. Alcohol-impaired driving is highly prevalent and a leading cause of death. Cannabis is commonly used among people who drink alcohol, and using alcohol and cannabis simultaneously is associated with a greater frequency of alcohol-impaired driving. Laboratory studies demonstrate the harmful effects of simultaneous use on driving ability compared to alcohol use alone, yet driving under the influence of cannabis is perceived as a low risk. We tested the influences of alcohol, cannabis, and their simultaneous use on perceived driving impairment and willingness to drive in daily life. Participants were 88 adults aged 18–44 (M_age = 25.22 years, 60.2% female, 85.2% White) who reported using alcohol and cannabis simultaneously at least twice per week. They completed 14 days of ecological momentary assessment and reported their alcohol and cannabis use, perceived driving impairment, and willingness to drive “right now” and “1 hr from now” on an average of 5.14 surveys per day. Adjusting for the total amount of alcohol consumed, results from multilevel models include greater perceived driving impairment when using alcohol (b = 0.39, SE = 0.05, p < .001) and cannabis (b = 0.37, SE = 0.03, p < .001) separately, but greater odds of being willing to drive right now (OR = 2.29, 95% CI [1.38, 3.81], p = .001) and in 1 hr (OR = 3.69, 95% CI [2.15, 6.34], p < .001) when using alcohol and cannabis simultaneously compared to using alcohol by itself. Simultaneous use of cannabis may attenuate the impact of alcohol on the decision to drive and may contribute harmfully to in-the-moment decisions to drive under the influence of alcohol. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Residual next-day effects of alprazolam on psychomotor performance and simulated driving in healthy normal adults. The prevalence of drugged driving has increased in the United States. Some drugged driving may be unintentional as prescription medications used as sleeping aids, like zolpidem, cause impairment after the predicted duration of therapeutic action has elapsed. The aim of this study was to determine if nighttime administration of alprazolam, a drug commonly prescribed off-label as a sleeping aid, impacts driving performance the following day. Participants were healthy adults (n = 15) who completed a double-blind, double-dummy, within-subjects inpatient study examining the effects of nighttime administration of alprazolam (0.5, 1, and 2 mg), zolpidem (10 mg), and placebo on driving performance the following day. Alprazolam (1 mg; morning) and zolpidem (nighttime) both served as positive control conditions. Driving simulator measures, cognitive and psychomotor tasks, and questionnaires querying drug effects were collected the afternoon before drug administration and for 5.5 hr the next day and analyzed using symmetry and mixed-model approaches. Morning alprazolam significantly impaired driving performance. Driving impairment was observed up to 12.5 hr after nighttime alprazolam 2 mg and for 8.5 hr after nighttime zolpidem 10 mg. Participant reports on driving ability indicated that they were not aware of their level of impairment. These results suggest that alprazolam used before bed may pose a yet unrecognized public safety risk in the form of next-day drugged driving. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A pilot study on craving and its relationship to self-ratings of depression and anxiety in prescription opioid use disorder. The role of craving in opioid use disorder (OUD) has been well established with respect to heroin but less so with prescription opioids. This pilot study, conducted in 18 treatment-seeking patients with prescription OUD and 18 healthy volunteers, assessed spontaneous (in the moment) and cue-induced craving and their relationship to depression and anxiety. Patients (vs. healthy volunteers) exhibited increased spontaneous craving for prescription opioids. Relative to brief (10 s) random presentations of neutral and affective images, presented drug (prescription opioids) images elicited greater craving ratings in patients and were associated with higher valence and arousal ratings. Elevated depression and anxiety observed in patients (vs. healthy volunteers) were positively associated with spontaneous and cue-induced cravings. These findings tentatively support a role for drug craving and mental health comorbidity in prescription OUD and underscore the need for additional research to understand their causal relationships and their interactive dynamics during treatment and recurrence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 02 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Adaptive purchase tasks in the operant demand framework. Various avenues exist for quantifying the effects of reinforcers on behavior. Numerous nonlinear models derived from the framework of Hursh and Silberberg (2008) are often applied to elucidate key metrics in the operant demand framework (e.g., Q₀, P_MAX), with each approach presenting respective strengths and trade-offs. This work introduces and demonstrates an adaptive task capable of elucidating key features of operant demand without relying on nonlinear regression (i.e., a targeted form of empirical P_MAX). An adaptive algorithm based on reinforcement learning is used to systematically guide questioning in the search for participant-level estimates related to peak work (e.g., P_MAX), and this algorithm was evaluated across four varying iteration lengths (i.e., five, 10, 15, and 20 sequentially updated questions). Equivalence testing with simulated agent responses revealed that tasks with five or more sequentially updated questions recovered P_MAX values statistically equivalent to seeded P_MAX values, which provided evidence suggesting that quantitative modeling (i.e., nonlinear regression) may not be necessary to reveal valuable features of reinforcer consumption and how consumption scales as a function of price. Discussions are presented regarding extensions of contemporary hypothetical purchase tasks and strategies for extracting and comparing critical aspects of consumer demand. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Overviewing the exponential model of demand and introducing a simplification that solves issues of span, scale, and zeros. One of the most successful models of describing the decay in commodity consumption as a function of cost across multiple domains is the exponential model introduced by Hursh and Silberberg (2008). This model formulates the value of a commodity by including a “standardized price” adjustment. This adjustment allows for a theoretically scale-invariant parameter to estimate a normalized decay (α, the sensitivity to changes in price) in commodity consumption that was detangled from an organism’s consumption when a commodity is free (Q₀). This scale-invariant parameter is sometimes referred to as the essential value (EV), which is generally represented as the inverse of α. However, the Hursh and Silberberg (HS) model has various shortcomings, notably as a result of the span parameter k and its influence on interpretations of α and, therefore, of essential value. We present an overview of the standardized price/real cost adjustment and challenges of and potential remedies to k within the HS framework and propose a simplified exponential model with normalized decay (Equation 10). The simplified exponential equation does not include the span parameter k and allows for straightforward analytic solutions for conceptually relevant and common demand metrics. Parities between the Hursh and Silberberg model and the simplified exponential with normalized decay model are demonstrated by conversions of α values between both models. Statistical parities between the simplified exponential with normalized decay model and the exponentiated model of demand with multiple data sets are also demonstrated. This simplified model then allows for consistent interpretations of α across commodities while retaining the theoretical benefits of the Hursh and Silberberg formulation of demand and the essential value. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT