Active Research
Advancing Tobacco Regulatory Science to Reduce Health Disparities
This study plans to develop and test in a randomized controlled trial social media messages with enhanced engagement features that target young adult little cigar and cigarette users to increase quit intentions . Additionally, assessment of their potential impact among vulnerable groups will be evaluated
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute (U54DA060049)
People: James F Thrasher (CI)
Dates: 9/2023 – 8/2028
Communicating about Nicotine and Differential Risks of Tobacco Products in Priority Populations
This study plans to Develop and test in a randomized controlled trial targeted messages about reduced nicotine in combusted tobacco products for adult smokers, comparing those with and without mental health issues, as well as those from relatively low and high educational attainment groups.
Funding Agency: Food & Drug Administration, National Cancer Institute/NIH (2R01CA239308)
People: James F Thrasher (CI)
Dates: 02/2024 – 01/2029
Completed Research (Selected Projects)
Addicted to smoking or addicted to nicotine?: A focus group study on perceptions of nicotine and addiction among US adult current smokers, former smokers, non-smokers, and dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes
In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed to reduce nicotine in cigarettes to minimally or non-addictive levels. Through semi-structured focus groups, this study qualitatively explored perceptions of nicotine and addiction, both independently and in response to messages communicating about nicotine reduction in the United States. Perceptions of nicotine and addiction among nonsmokers, former smokers, exclusive smokers and dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes vary based on smoking status, but there is a common tendency to believe that nicotine is addictive, that addiction results from more than just nicotine, and that very low nicotine cigarettes will not necessarily reduce the addictiveness of cigarettes.
Funding Agency: National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (R01CA239308)
People: Emily E. Loud, Hue Trong Duong, Katherine C. Henderson, Reed M. Reynolds, PhD, David L. Ashley, James F. Thrasher, and Lucy Popova
Televised anti-tobacco media and smoking outcomes among heterosexual and sexual minority adults in the United States
The prevalence of smoking is higher among sexual minority (SM) individuals, compared to heterosexuals. The impact of televised anti-tobacco mass media campaigns on smoking outcomes among SMs is not known. This study examined whether televised anti-tobacco advertising was differentially associated with current smoking and smoking intensity for sexual minority (SM) and heterosexual adults. Associations between anti-tobacco advertising and smoking were discovered to be insignificantly different for heterosexual and SM adults.
Funding Agency: P2C HD041028/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States, R37 CA214787/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
People: Andrea R. Titus, James F. Thrasher, Kristi E. Gamarel, Sherry L. Emery, Michael R.
Elliott, and Nancy L. Fleischer
Reactions to Messages About a Nicotine Reduction Policy: A Focus Group Study Among People Who Use Little Cigars and Cigarillos
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed rulemaking to reduce the nicotine content in cigarettes and other combusted tobacco products to non-addictive levels. This qualitative study documents reactions to messages communicating this policy among people who use little cigars and cigarillos (LCCs). This is the first study to document affective and cognitive responses to the FDA's reduced nicotine policy among people who use LCCs. The false belief that cigar products are less harmful than cigarettes may be influencing people's lack of support for the reduced nicotine policy and difficulty in understanding its potential positive impact. To maximize the public health benefit of the reduced nicotine policy, the FDA should include LCC products in the policy; however, it is crucial that they use educational messaging to clarify misperceptions regarding nicotine and harm as it applies to LCCs.
Funding Agency: Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health (R01 TW010652)
People: Charity A Ntansah, Emily E Hackworth, Katherine C Henderson, Reed M Reynolds, Bo Yang, David L Ashley, Hue Trong Duong, James F Thrasher, Lucy Popova