Helping smokers with mental illness switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes
Official title: Harm Reduction for Smokers with Mental Illness: RCT of E-cigarette Provision with or without Behavioral Support to Boost Switching
Funded at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic · NIH-11087526 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether giving e-cigarettes, with or without extra support, can help people with mental health issues cut down on their smoking, making it easier for them to find a safer option than regular cigarettes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $672,894 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA057729-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11087526 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who have a mental illness and currently smoke cigarettes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not smoke or those who are not diagnosed with a mental illness may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how providing e-cigarettes, with or without behavioral support, can help smokers with mental illness reduce their cigarette use. The study aims to understand the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy, particularly for individuals who may struggle with traditional smoking cessation methods. Participants will be monitored for changes in their smoking behavior and overall health outcomes over the course of the study. The approach focuses on offering a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes, acknowledging that complete abstinence may not be feasible for everyone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a safer alternative for smokers with mental illness, potentially reducing their health risks associated with smoking.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot studies have shown promising results in reducing cigarette use among smokers with mental illness using e-cigarettes, indicating that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Lebanon, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pratt, Sarah Ilana — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Pratt, Sarah Ilana
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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.