Nicotine in pouches triples to 30 mg

The FDA has issued marketing authorization for only a limited number of nicotine pouches in 3 mg, 6 mg, and 9 mg strengths. Some companies now sell products containing up to 30 mg of nicotine per pouch. These products are not authorized for sale and are being sold illegally. “As a pulmonary, critical care, and sleep …

WSHS 2 data spurs methodological innovations

Data from a UW-CTRI study known as the Wisconsin Smokers’ Health Study 2 has helped colleagues from other methodology centers and UW-CTRI to develop a variety of methodological innovations. The latest novel approach was recently published in the journal Multivariate Behavioral Research. In longitudinal studies, exposure to treatment and mediators (factors influenced by treatment) rarely stay constant. For …

Is belief in ability to quit a self-fulfilling prophecy?

A UW-CTRI paper used a sophisticated analytic approach to determine a set of baseline predictors for treatment outcomes in the BREATHE 1 Motivation Study led by Dr. Jessica Cook. The primary study found that some treatment components yielded unintended adverse clinical outcomes. This new paper sought to explain these effects. The results, published in Addictive Behaviors, found that the …

Dr. Jen Betts gets grant to help vets

UW-CTRI Researcher Dr. Jen Betts received a new grant from the US Veterans Administration (VA) to officially fund her Career Development Award (CDA), which at the VA is similar to a NIH “K award.” “It provides five years of protected time and funding to conduct a pilot clinical trial and engage in related research and training to …

UW-CTRI media roundup

ABC 7 TV news in Wausau interviewed Quit Line Coordinator Kate Kobinsky to discuss how the Quit Line is quadrupling free medications to quit smoking while supplies last. To watch that video, click here. NBC 15 also picked up that interview and ran it on their morning news. To view that, click here. The La Crosse Tribune and Wisconsin …

Product Watch: New Vape Offers 100,000 Puffs

A new vaping device, marketed as the MaskKing Extre 100K, is raising public health concerns over its legality and use among youth. “First of all, this product is not authorized for sale by the FDA in the United States,” said UW-CTRI Director Dr. Hasmeena Kathuria. “It’s illegal, yet readily available online. “Second, these unauthorized products are available …

Dr. Adam Clements becomes board-certified in addiction medicine

Dr. Adam Clements of Aspirus Health, who had been mentored for years as a UW-CTRI student by Dr. Doug Jorenby, recently became board-certified in addiction medicine. “I needed to tell that to Doug as a thank you,” Clements said. “I got hired at UW-CTRI almost by accident. I had been looking at bench science for my …

Cook contributes to new VA guideline

The US Veterans Administration (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) have collaboratively developed a new evidence-based clinical practice guideline to help veterans and military personnel quit tobacco use. UW-CTRI Director of Veterans Research Dr. Jessica Cook served as one of 10 tobacco experts on a workgroup that developed it. The workgroup met weekly since June 2024 and gathered …

UW-CTRI recruits young participants for nationwide qualitative study

UW-CTRI recently began recruiting teens and young adults nationwide to participate in a qualitative study about their engagement with programs to help them quit vaping. The recruitment is via social media and is open to people ages 14 to 24 nationwide. After a virtual interview, participants will get a $50 Amazon gift card. To learn …

New Way to Address New Year’s Resolution to Quit Smoking

FOR RELEASE January 5, 2025 If you smoke and vape, there’s a new national study offering free tools to help you concur your New Year’s resolution to quit smoking. The Avenues Study has gone national and virtual and people can sign up at AvenuesStudy.com. Those who complete it get paid up to $445. “Research shows …