Comparing withdrawal symptoms between vapers and cigarette smokers
Official title: A controlled evaluation of abstinence-induced withdrawal and motivation to vape/smoke among daily ENDS users vs. cigarette smokers
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11081008 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people who vape and those who smoke regular cigarettes feel when they try to stop using nicotine, focusing on things like cravings and emotions, to help us understand what keeps them motivated to use these products.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $859,866 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA054276-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11081008 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 21 and older who are daily users of either electronic nicotine delivery systems or traditional cigarettes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use nicotine products or are not interested in quitting smoking or vaping may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the withdrawal symptoms experienced by individuals who use electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) compared to those who smoke traditional cigarettes. It aims to understand how these withdrawal symptoms, such as cravings and negative emotions, influence the motivation to continue using nicotine products. Participants will include daily vapers, daily smokers, and dual users, who will undergo controlled lab visits to assess their experiences after a period of abstinence. The study employs advanced methods to measure various aspects of withdrawal, providing insights into the differences between these two groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for nicotine dependence by better understanding withdrawal symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: While there is extensive research on withdrawal from combustible cigarettes, this study represents a novel approach to understanding withdrawal from electronic nicotine delivery systems.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hawk, Larry W — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Hawk, Larry W
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Motivation for Alcohol Use in Humans and How It Can Be Measured
This grant explores how people are motivated to drink alcohol and tests a safe, controlled way to study that motivation to inform better treatments for alcohol use disorder.
-
Effects of ADT on motivation and emotion in prostate cancer patients
This project looks at how androgen deprivation therapy may affect motivation and mood over time in men with prostate cancer.
-
SMART: a program to help people who use drugs in Atlanta stay on HIV prevention and treatment
A new program aims to help people who use drugs in Atlanta, especially those who are unhoused or unstably housed, stay connected to HIV prevention and treatment and related services.
-
Understanding how kids with autism talk and stay motivated across ages and people
A long-term study following autistic and non-autistic kids from late childhood into early adolescence to see how social communication and motivation change over time.
-
Motivation Matters! a smartphone support tool to boost HIV medicines adherence in HIV+ sex workers
A smartphone-based program helps HIV+ women who sex-work with adherence to antiretroviral therapy, aiming to keep their HIV under control.
-
Understanding motivation in the brain's VTA GABA/glutamate system and its link to mood disorders
A researcher at Dartmouth will study how a specific brain circuit that uses both inhibitory and excitatory signals influences motivation and mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.