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Brain/Craving Response to Smoking Cues After Oral Nicotine Pouch Use

University of Southern California · NCT07698470

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 21–55 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
45
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
April 30, 2026
Record last updated
July 13, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

Oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) are non-combustible nicotine products that may reduce cigarette craving and smoking cue-induced brain activity, supporting their potential as harm-reduction tools for adults who smoke cigarettes. This within-subject, repeated-measures study will evaluate the acute effects of a single 6 mg oral nicotine pouch on subjective craving and prefrontal neural responses to smoking-related cues using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Participants will complete assessments before and after nicotine pouch administration following overnight nicotine abstinence to characterize changes in craving and neural cue reactivity.

Being studied: Oral Nicotine Pouch; Smoking Cue Reactivity Task

Conditions: Nicotine Dependence

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 21 years - 55 years
  • Self-reported use of cigarettes within the past 30 days
  • Biochemical confirmation of cigarette use:

o Carbon monoxide (CO) breath sample ≥10 ppm

  • Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) score ≥5, indicating moderate to high nicotine dependence
  • Fluent in English
  • Willing to try an oral nicotine pouch
  • Willing to abstain from nicotine for at least 12 hours prior to each experimental session

Exclusion Criteria

  • Age younger than 21 years or older than 55 years
  • Biochemical evidence inconsistent with recent cigarette use:

o CO breath sample \<10 ppm

  • Expressed intent to reduce or quit nicotine use within the next 30 days
  • History of medical conditions contraindicated for nicotine use (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, recent cardiac events)
  • Primary use of non-cigarette products (e.g., cigars, pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco)
  • Prior use of oral nicotine products in their lifetime

Recruiting US locations

  • University of Southern California - 3641 Watt Way (HNB B22)

    Los Angeles, CA 90089

    Site contact: USC Nicotine and Tobacco Studies · 213-821-0807 · USCONPStudy@gmail.com

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • USC Nicotine and Tobacco Studies · 213-821-0807 · USCONPStudy@gmail.com
All smoking & vaping studies in California →
Brain/Craving Response to Smoking Cues After Oral Nicotine Pouch Use (NCT07698470) | Bored Studies