Research Center: Yale University
Location: New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
Lead Researcher: Mehmet Sofuoglu, M.D., Ph.D.
IRB Committee: This study has been reviewed and approved by the Yale Institutional Review Board

About the Study

Do you like smoking menthol cigarettes? While they may give you a minty, cooling effect, research suggests that they may do more harm than good. Menthol has a cooling, pain-killing effect that helps soothe the dry throat feeling that comes with smoking regular cigarettes. This effect may make menthol cigarettes more attractive to smokers and more difficult to quit.

This research study seeks to determine if switching from menthol to non-menthol cigarettes may help relieve the urge to smoke by lowering nicotine content. The results of this study may help in establishing standards for nicotine delivery rates that minimize the addictive risks of cigarettes. 

Why Participate? 

• Participants will receive menthol or non-menthol cigarettes at no cost.
• Participants will be contributing valuable information that may help those who want to relieve their smoking urges in the future.
• Participants will be compensated up to $700 for participating in this study. Compensation will also be provided for additional study visits and for each referral a participant manages to invite in the study.
• Participants will be helping to advance medical research on menthol cigarettes.

Your Rights

• If you decide to participate in the study and later feel that you no longer wish to be part of it, you can withdraw at any time.
• Any information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by law.
• Qualified health professionals will monitor your health as it relates to the study.

Who Can Participate?

• Men and women aged 21-35 who have been smoking cigarettes for at least a year
• Must smoke between 5-20 cigarettes daily 
• Must not be seeking treatment for nicotine dependence
• Must not have used e-cigarettes for more than 10 days in the past 30 days
• Must be able to attend 8 study visits at the research site over approximately 14 weeks

Key Study Details 

The study team will explain the research study in its entirety but some details are:

• Participants will be randomly placed to menthol or non-menthol smoking conditions for 2 weeks and be switched to the alternative condition for another 2 weeks.
• Participants will be asked to complete 2 study phases and use the appropriate cigarettes provided for each phase. 
  • Participants in the menthol phase will be provided with their usual brand of menthol cigarettes while those in the non-menthol phase will be given a matched-brand non-menthol cigarette (e.g., Newport Non-Menthol Gold 100s for those who smoke Newport Menthol Gold 100s).
• Participants will be asked to abstain from smoking for 10 hours during test days.
• Participants will be asked to attend 2 test sessions where they will be given an IV.
  • Participants will be asked to complete 2 infusions in the following order: nicotine (1 mg per 70 kg body weight) delivered over 2.5 or 5 minutes, saline and nicotine (1 mg/ 70 kg) delivered over 2.5 or 5 minutes.
• Participants will be asked to complete 14 daily phone check-ins.
• Participants will be asked to donate a small amount of blood.

About the Research Center:

Yale University
Since its founding in 1701, Yale has been dedicated to expanding and sharing knowledge, inspiring innovation, and preserving cultural and scientific information for future generations. Yale is committed to improving the world today and for future generations through outstanding research and scholarship, education, preservation, and practice.

Please note:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers would like to assure the participants that ensuring their and the study staff’s safety is of utmost importance.