Effects of E-Cigarette Flavors on Adult E-Cigarette Users With Opioid Use Disorder (FLAVOR)

Effects of E-Cigarette Flavors on Adult E-Cigarette Users With Opioid Use Disorder Receiving Buprenorphine

This study examines the effects of e-cigarette (EC) flavors among adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) receiving buprenorphine treatment who currently use e-cigarettes. Participants will smell and rate 11 EC flavors based on appeal, sensory characteristics, and likelihood of future use. Researchers will examine how different flavor profiles influence the appeal and reinforcing effects of ECs in this population. The goal is to identify EC flavors that may enhance the acceptability of ECs as a potential harm-reduction strategy among adults with OUD receiving buprenorphine treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Opioid Use Disorder; Nicotine Use Disoder
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Sweet-cooling; Drug: Sweet non-cooling EC flavor; Drug: Tobacco flavor EC

Detailed Description

This study examines the effects of e-cigarette (EC) flavors among adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) who are receiving buprenorphine treatment and currently use e-cigarettes. Participants will complete a brief session in which they will smell and rate 11 EC flavors based on their appeal, sensory characteristics, and likelihood of future use. Researchers will examine how different flavor profiles influence the appeal, positive subjective effects, and reinforcing potential of EC flavors in this population. The goal of the study is to identify one or more EC flavors that may enhance the acceptability and reinforcing effects of ECs as a potential harm-reduction strategy among adults with OUD receiving buprenorphine treatment.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 70

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • South Carolina
    • Greenville, South Carolina, United States, 29605
      • Prisma Health Recovery Clinic-Greenville

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

E-cigarette users with opioid use disorder receiving burpenorphine

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 21 years or older.
• Current e-cigarette users who report e-cigarette use on ≥20 of the past 30 days.
• Former daily cigarette smokers who currently smoke on ≤19 days per month and no more than 5 cigarettes per day.
• Diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD).
• Currently receiving buprenorphine treatment for OUD.

Exclusion Criteria:

-

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Perceived Sweetness	Perceived sweetness of each e-cigarette flavor will be assessed using a one-item VAS ranging from "Not sweet at all" to "Extremely sweet," with higher scores indicating greater perceived sweetness.	Baseline session
Perceived Coolness/Freshness	Perceived coolness/freshness of each e-cigarette flavor will be assessed using a one-item VAS ranging from "Not cool/fresh at all" to "Extremely cool/fresh," with higher scores indicating greater perceived coolness/freshness.	Baseline session
Perceived Flavor Strength	Perceived flavor strength will be assessed using a one-item VAS ranging from "Very weak" to "Very strong," with higher scores indicating greater perceived flavor strength.	Baseline session
Perceived Harshness/Irritation	Perceived harshness/irritation of each e-cigarette flavor will be assessed using a one-item VAS ranging from "Not harsh/irritating at all" to "Extremely harsh/irritating," with higher scores indicating greater perceived harshness/irritation.	Baseline session
Flavor Liking	Flavor liking will be assessed using a one-item VAS ranging from "Not at all" to "Extremely," with higher scores indicating greater liking of the flavor.	Baseline session
Likelihood of Future Use	Likelihood of future use will be assessed using a one-item VAS ranging from "Not at all" to "Definitely," with higher scores indicating greater likelihood of future use of the flavor.	Baseline session

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Prisma Health-Upstate
• Collaborators: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 12, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 28, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): April 28, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 13, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 13, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 19, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 3, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 30, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Narcotic-Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Opioid-Related Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2328661-2; K01DA062708 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No