Switching from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes for smokers on methadone
Official title: Methadone-Maintained Smokers Switching to E-Cigarettes
Funded at Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri) · NIH-10640206 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether switching from regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes can help people who are on methadone for opioid use disorder to quit smoking and improve their health over four years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $342,159 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA052907-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10640206 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with opioid use disorder who are currently enrolled in methadone maintenance programs and are heavy smokers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently using methadone or who do not smoke combustible cigarettes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the potential benefits and risks of using e-cigarettes as a harm-reduction strategy for smokers who are maintained on methadone due to opioid use disorder. The study will focus on individuals who are struggling to quit smoking combustible cigarettes, which pose significant health risks. Participants will be monitored for changes in behavior and health biomarkers as they transition from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes over a four-year period. The goal is to better understand how e-cigarettes may help reduce smoking-related health issues in this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a safer alternative for smokers on methadone, potentially reducing their health risks associated with smoking.
How similar studies have gone: While there is ongoing research into e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool, this specific approach focusing on methadone-maintained smokers is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri)
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abrantes, Ana M — Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri)
- Study coordinator: Abrantes, Ana M
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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.