# Impact of Flavor on Youth & Young Adults use Intention, Abuse Liability and Perceptions of Cigarillos

> **NIH NIH R01** · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $434,538

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Cigarillos are popular among youth and young adults, and flavors predominate in this tobacco product type.
Despite carrying the same level of health risk, flavored tobacco products are misperceived by youth as being
less harmful than unflavored products. A gap in the current literature exists for characterizing flavors in cigarillos
and their impact on product appeal, attention to marketing, product perceptions, abuse liability, and subsequent
use behavior among youth and young adults. It has yet to be determined whether the removal of flavors from
cigarillos would results in cessation or substitution of another tobacco product, such as e-cigarettes, and whether
that choice would be more influenced by perceptions of appeal or perceptions of risk. To accomplish this, we
have proposed three integrated aims to gather data to inform CTP regulation strategies on flavored tobacco,
specifically for cigarillo products; throughout the proposed research, data on JUUL will be gathered as a highly
popular alternative product with potential substitutability. First, drawing from an existing Young Cigarillo User
Sample, we will evaluate perceptions of flavors on appeal, risk perceptions, and addictiveness of cigarillos and
other tobacco products among youth and young adult cigarillo users. Within the same sample, we will
experimentally examine differences in visual attention and risk perceptions of flavored and unflavored cigarillo
and JUUL advertisements among youth and young adult cigarillo users; non-users will be added to explore
whether effects are modified by user type. Next, we will use a complex Experimental Tobacco Marketplace to
evaluate the abuse liability/addictive potential of flavored versus unflavored cigarillos while simultaneously
evaluating substitutability of JUUL e-cigarettes. Through these three aims, this proposal employs rigorous
biobehavioral and behavioral economic methods to gather data that will create a foundation to inform
intervention-focused research. Now that cigarillos are subject to FDA regulatory authority, these findings will be
responsive to the ANPRM on the role of flavors in youth and young adult cigarillo use, and will inform policy
development regarding product standards and advertising to reduce both appeal and abuse liability and to
accurately inform consumers regarding cigarillo risks to health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10219220
- **Project number:** 5R01DA048529-03
- **Recipient organization:** CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth G Klein
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $434,538
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-15 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10219220

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10219220, Impact of Flavor on Youth & Young Adults use Intention, Abuse Liability and Perceptions of Cigarillos (5R01DA048529-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10219220. Licensed CC0.

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