Tobacco clinical trials at UCSD

The investigators are addressing two critical areas identified by the FDA: the impact of cigarette packaging and labeling on consumer perceptions and on smoking behavior; and the effectiveness of graphic warning labels on communicating risk of tobacco products. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), investigators will enroll committed smokers who have no intention of quitting in the next 6-months. The three study arms will be: a) a blank pack with all marketing materials removed (PP); b) The Australian graphic warning images (Australian model-AM); or c) a standard pack with all marketing materials unaltered (ST). The study includes a three month purchasing intervention and continued follow-up through 12 months. Throughout the study interactive text messaging assessments will be used to measure acute and persistent impact of labeling and marketing on perceptions of tobacco products, subjective effects of consumption, awareness of tobacco-related harms, tobacco use behavior, and quitting motivation. At three separate time points, participants will: a) complete a web-based questionnaire b) provide a saliva sample for cotinine analysis. The rigorous design and extensive objective measurements are significant innovations on the currently published research in this field and should lead to significant advances in tobacco regulatory science.

This research study is being conducted to test the effectiveness of the Enhanced Multicomponent Proactive Navigator-Assisted Cessation of Tobacco Use (EMPACT-Us), an innovative suite of tobacco cessation services designed in partnership with patients, providers, and other community stakeholders during a pilot study. We hypothesize that EMPACT-Us will be more effective than the newly-enhanced usual care on improving engagement in tobacco treatments, quit attempts and biochemically verified cessation at 6-and 12-months post initial offerings.

This research study aims to test whether topiramate (a drug that is being used for seizure) will help individuals who have problems with both alcohol and nicotine. The investigators believe that individuals taking topiramate will be more successful at abstaining from both alcohol and nicotine than individuals taking placebo.