Please note: This trial has finished recruiting and is not accepting new participants.

Research Centers: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences 
Location: 1013 E 66th Place, Tulsa, OK 74136 United States, but some study activities will be done virtually
Lead Researcher: Dr. Jason Oliver
IRB Committee: This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Institutional Review Board

Each year, over 480,000 deaths in the United States and over 7 million deaths worldwide are attributable to smoking. Oklahoma has the highest rate of heart disease in the US and the 4th highest rate of cancer. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for both. Helping researchers develop new treatments for smoking could help reduce this impact.

Many people experience bad moods/irritability when quitting smoking because of nicotine withdrawal, and research suggests this is one factor that makes quitting smoking so difficult. This study will help researchers understand how nicotine withdrawal impacts the reward systems of the brain and the downstream effects this has on mood and behavior. The results of this study will help develop new treatments that will make quitting smoking easier for those who want to do so.

• Participants will be contributing valuable information that may benefit those who wish to quit smoking in the future.
• Participants will be compensated up to $486 for participating in this study. 
• Participants will be helping to advance medical research on nicotine withdrawal.

• 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.

• Men and women aged 21-55 who smoke 10 or more cigarettes a day
• Must have no plans to quit smoking in the near future
• Must not be currently seeking or receiving treatment to help them quit smoking
• Must have a smartphone
• Must be able to attend 4 study visits at the research site and complete some study activities via phone, Zoom, and other electronic methods over approximately 4-6 weeks

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

• Participants will be asked to complete some paper and online questionnaires.
• Participants will be asked to complete a short psychiatric interview with a member of the study team. 
• Participants will work with the study team to develop short stories about times when they smoke or do other activities
• Participants will complete 2 MRI scans on 2 separate study visits. 
  • Participants will be required to stop smoking for 24 hours prior to one MRI visit.
  • Participants will continue smoking as usual prior to the other visit. During their smoking-as-usual visit, participants will smoke one cigarette of their own brand.
• To ensure that the participants have been following instructions, the researchers will conduct a breath test when participants arrive for study visits. 
  • • If their breath sample indicates that they may not have complied with instructions, participants will not be allowed to complete the scan that day. Participants may be given one opportunity to reschedule.
• Participants will complete brief daily surveys on their smartphones for 2 weeks after the second visit.

Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
Founded in 1972, the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences was established as an academic health center to expand the reach and health research capabilities of OSU. It works to meet the health care needs of rural and underserved Oklahoma residents, advance the frontier of medical research and provide excellent care and service to the surrounding community. 

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.