Tax Effects for Cigarette Smoking

Overseen By Roberta Freitas Lemos, Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Must not be taking: Smoking cessation medications

Disqualifiers: Uncontrolled health conditions, Pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to study how different tax rates on tobacco products influence cigarette demand and whether smokers switch to other products. It tests three tax conditions based on the addictive nature of each tobacco product, compared to a control group with no tax change. Smokers who smoke at least 10 cigarettes daily and use other tobacco products less than once a week may be suitable candidates. Participants will purchase tobacco products under various tax scenarios to observe changes in their buying habits.

As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to important research that could shape future tobacco taxation policies.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications to join the trial?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you've used smoking cessation medications in the past 30 days.

What prior data suggests that these tax interventions are safe for cigarette smokers?

Research has shown that tobacco taxes, like those tested in this trial, are generally safe for people. These taxes have been widely used to reduce smoking and addiction by making smoking less attractive through higher prices for tobacco products.

This study examines how different tax rates affect tobacco prices and, consequently, people's buying habits. It does not involve any new drugs or medical treatments. Since it only alters the cost of tobacco products, participants face no direct health risks.

Overall, participating in a study about tobacco taxes should be low-risk, as it focuses on economic factors rather than physical health treatments. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a novel approach to reducing cigarette smoking through tax strategies based on tobacco abuse liability. Unlike traditional treatments, which often focus on smoking cessation aids like nicotine replacement therapy or medications that alter brain chemistry, this trial investigates the impact of financial incentives. By adjusting taxes according to the abuse potential of tobacco products, the trial aims to decrease cigarette demand and encourage smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives. This innovative method leverages economic behavior to influence smoking habits, offering a fresh perspective on reducing tobacco use.

What evidence suggests that these tax interventions could be effective for reducing cigarette demand?

Research has shown that raising tobacco taxes can lead to reduced smoking. Studies have found that when taxes increase, people often smoke less or quit because cigarettes become more expensive. In this trial, cigarette smokers will experience different tax rate conditions based on the abuse liability of tobacco products. One study discovered that taxes based on a product's harm can influence purchasing and smoking habits. In short, adjusting taxes according to the harm of each product might help reduce smoking and improve health. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Roberta Freitas Lemos, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for cigarette smokers who will be grouped by age. Participants will engage in a study where they purchase tobacco products under different tax conditions based on the product's potential for abuse. There are no specific inclusion or exclusion criteria provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Provide informed consent

Provide a breath sample for measuring carbon monoxide (CO ≥ 8 ppm)

Smoke at least 10 cigarettes daily

Exclusion Criteria

If they are pregnant or lactating

Have plans to move out of the area during the experiment

Have uncontrolled physical or mental health conditions

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Consent and Assessments

Participants complete consent procedures, provide samples, and complete initial assessments

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

At Home Product Sampling

Participants sample tobacco products at home over a period of 4 days

4 days

ETM Session

Participants engage in purchasing trials under different tax conditions in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for recent smoking and consumption of nicotine products via a phone call

7 days

1 visit (phone call)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Effects of Tobacco Abuse Liability-dependent Taxes

Trial Overview The study tests how varying taxes, determined by a product's abuse liability, affect smokers' purchasing behavior. Smokers will face three tax scenarios: based on product category score, rank, and tiers of abuse liability, plus a control condition without these taxes.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Cigarette smokers Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

In a within-subject design, cigarette smokers, stratified by age, will purchase tobacco products under three tax rate conditions based on abuse liability, that is taxes based on: (1) product category score (i.e. score ranging from 0-1 based on abuse liability effect sizes); (2) product category rank (i.e. position of a product relative to all others; e.g. 1st, 5th); and (3) product tiers (i.e. low-, medium-, high abuse liability), as well as a control. In the ETM, the effects of these interventions will be examined on cigarette demand and other products substitution.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

162

Recruited

26,900+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials

2,896

Recruited

8,053,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07042373

Effects of Tobacco Abuse Liability-dependent Taxes in ... In this study, the investigators will experimentally examine the impact of abuse-liability taxes on tobacco product purchases and ultimately tobacco dependence.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3228562/

Effects of Tobacco Taxation and Pricing on Smoking Behavior ... Tobacco taxes can benefit smokers who quit, reduce the overall consumption of tobacco ... Use and Abuse: The Experience of Developed Countries and Lessons ...

3. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00181-024-02674-0

Revisiting the effects of cigarette taxation on smoking ... Adda J, Cornaglia F (2006) Taxes, cigarette consumption, and smoking intensity. ... The effect of the tobacco settlement and smoking bans on ...

4. bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-13242-5

The association between smoking behaviors and prices and ... The effect of cigarette taxes on cigarette consumption, 1955 through 1994. Am J Public Health. 1997;87(7):1126–30. Article CAS Google Scholar.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2414644723000957

Does higher tax rate affect tobacco usage? Unravelling the ... This study aims to explore the effectiveness of higher tax rates and tobacco use regulation as control mechanisms in mitigating tobacco consumption and health ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11418566/

Do tobacco regulatory and economic factors influence ... ... smoking cessation outcomes? A post ... Determinants of tobacco use and renaming the FTND to the Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167629625000578

The Effect of E-Cigarette Taxes on Substance Use Along with the immediate pleasure-related utility generated from recreational consumption (i.e., a “buzz” or “high”), their use may also generate important ...

8. nber.org nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w29216/w29216.pdf

nber working paper series We use two large national surveys (Monitoring the Future and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System) to estimate the impact of ENDS taxes on youth tobacco ...

9. tobaccocontrol.bmj.com tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/21/2/172

Tobacco taxes as a tobacco control strategy Tobacco excise taxes are a powerful tool for reducing tobacco use while at the same time providing a reliable source of government revenues.