University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Megan Piper

Cannabis use associated with difficulty switching cigarettes out for vapes

Cannabis use reduces the chances someone will try to quit smoking, according to findings published by UW-CTRI researchers in Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Researchers found that, among 160 Options Study participants, cannabis co-use reduced switching from cigarettes to vapes or very-low nicotine cigarettes (VLNCs). “I was surprised that almost half of participants reported cannabis use …

Research Demonstrates Vaping Turns Sleep Into a Vicious Cycle

Young adults who vaped experienced interrupted sleeping, which turned their sleep-vape schedule into a vicious cycle, according to research published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Researchers from the University of Texas in Houston and UW-CTRI tracked 35 young adults (ages 18–25) who vaped daily and wore smartwatches 24/7 to assess sleep quality. Participants completed ecological …

UW-CTRI Staff Share Findings in New Orleans

UW-CTRI colleagues presented at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 2025 Annual Conference in New Orleans. Here’s a rundown of UW-CTRI participation. Symposia 1. Dr. Adrienne Johnson, co-chair.Pre-Conference Workshop #3: Moving the Needle on Impact: Implementation Strategies and Applications in Tobacco Treatment. Presenters highlighted an implementation science framework, strategy, or study design and …

Which Products Help Avoid Regular Cigs?

Alternative products like vapes or cigarettes with very low levels of nicotine (VLNCs) seemed to help people with no intention of quitting smoking to avoid smoking their regular brand of cigs—not just during a trial switch week but even in the week thereafter. These results, from the original Options Study led by UW-CTRI Director of …

New Papers Call for Policymakers, Clinicians to Help Black People Avoid Tobacco Harms

Two new papers in medical journals written by UW-CTRI authors excoriate the tobacco industry’s exploitation of Black Americans and encourage policymakers and clinicians to help Black Wisconsin residents quit tobacco use. The first article, by UW-CTRI Director Dr. Hasmeena Kathuria, calls on the US government to follow through on its promise to ban menthol flavoring …