The National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded Duke Anesthesiology’s Sven-Eric Jordt, PhD, a four-year $2,395,528 R01 grant for his project titled, “Impact of New Tobacco Product Design and Synthetic Additives on Use Initiation and Preference Behavior.”
The tobacco industry's response to regulatory interventions has led to the rapid introduction of new products designed to maintain nicotine dependence among individuals who have quit smoking and to attract new consumers. Among these products, oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) have gained significant popularity since their introduction to the US market (in the smokeless tobacco product category) in 2019. These pouches contain a white powder claimed to be tobacco-free, consisting of filler, nicotine, and a wide array of flavors.
In addition to ONPs, the introduction of "non-menthol" cigarettes in states such as California and Massachusetts, where menthol cigarettes have been banned, has raised concerns about their impact on former menthol smokers. Limited data exists regarding the chemical composition and addictive properties of these products, particularly among adolescents who are initiating their use.
Jordt’s study aims to investigate three key hypotheses: 1) The design and formulation of novel tobacco products allow for the efficient and rapid release of nicotine and flavors, 2) Flavors released from nicotine pouches may be particularly appealing to adolescents, potentially promoting nicotine intake, and 3) Additives released from "non-menthol" cigarettes could facilitate smoke inhalation and increase nicotine absorption. These hypotheses are based on Jordt’s previous research and preliminary findings that demonstrate that ONPs contain significant amounts of synthetic high-intensity sweeteners, that some ONPs contain a less irritating form of nicotine, and that “non-menthol” cigarettes contain synthetic cooling agents replacing menthol.
To address these hypotheses, Jordt will pursue these specific aims: 1) Analyze the chemical composition of nicotine pouch products and "non-menthol" cigarettes to identify flavors, sweeteners, and tobacco-derived or tobacco-free racemic nicotine, 2) Investigate the behavioral effects of sweeteners and nicotine forms on initiation of consumption of oral nicotine pouch extracts in mice, and 3) Quantify the effects of synthetic cooling agents in “non-menthol” cigarettes on the sensory respiratory irritation response in mice.
“Our study highlights the rapid growth in the user population of nicotine pouches and ‘non-menthol’ cigarettes and the industry's inclusion of artificial flavors such as sweeteners and cooling chemicals in these products,” says Jordt, associate professor in anesthesiology and associate professor of pharmacology and cancer biology. “Through our research, we will examine the content of flavors and sweeteners in these products and whether these components make it easier to become addicted to nicotine, particularly in vulnerable populations such as adolescents. Our data will be reported to the FDA to inform the agency’s tobacco regulatory process.”