# Project 2

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2023 · $882,054

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Project 2 (P2): Longitudinal Patterns of Non-Combustible Tobacco Product Use in AYAs (Co-Leaders,
Barrington-Trimis/Hughes-Halbert).
P2 examines the role of oral nicotine products (ONPs) and e-cigarettes in adverse longitudinal AYA tobacco
product use outcomes, and the product characteristics and populations driving these outcomes. To accomplish
this, P2 will: a) extend semi-annual surveys in an ongoing prospective cohort of adolescents (n=2,619) into young
adulthood; b) establish a new adolescent cohort (n=2,500) who will be surveyed semiannually from age 14-18.
In both cohorts, surveys will measure patterns and product characteristics of ONPs, e-cigarettes, and other
tobacco products used at each wave, supplemented with a novel discrete choice task that will assess implicit
preferences for ONPs and e-cigarettes in various flavors and nicotine concentrations. Aim 1 is to determine
whether ONP use is associated with subsequent risk of e-cigarette and combustible tobacco use initiation and
escalation among AYAs. We hypothesize that ONP use frequency will predict subsequent e-cigarette and
combustible tobacco use: (a) initiation, (b) frequency, and (c) intensity. Aim 2 is to identify the product
characteristics of novel ONPs and e-cigarettes that increase risk for AYA use escalation and dependence
symptoms. We hypothesize that risk of progression in AYA ONP and e-cigarette use frequency and intensity,
and dependence symptom levels will be higher in AYAs who use and have implicit preferences for ONPs and e-
cigarettes with the following characteristics: (a) very high vs. high or low nicotine concentrations; (b)
ambiguously-named concept flavors, explicitly-named fruit, menthol, mint, or ice+fruit hybrid flavors vs.
unflavored products or tobacco flavors; and (c) designs that promote more discrete use. Aim 3 is to evaluate
differential patterns of ONP initiation, use escalation, and poly-product use across diverse populations. We
hypothesize that AYAs with low socioeconomic or sexual/gender minority statuses will be at higher risk of: (a)
ONP use initiation, (b) escalation in ONP use frequency and intensity across time, and (c) poly-product use (past
30 day use of ONP+other products) across time. Implications for regulation: If we find that certain product
classes (e.g., ONPs), product characteristics (e.g., flavors, nicotine, discreet designs), or populations (e.g.,
sexual minority status) are associated with adverse longitudinal nicotine use outcomes in AYAs, targeting these
products in regulatory restrictions (e.g., marketing denials, enforcement) may yield benefits. Namely, such
regulations could deter AYAs who start using non-combustible products from progressing toward more adverse
patterns of use, including marginalized AYA groups historically subject to health disparities.
FDA Scientific Areas: Behavior, Addiction, Marketing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10664807
- **Project number:** 2U54CA180905-11
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Jessica Louise Barrington-Trimis
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $882,054
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2013-09-19 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10664807

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10664807, Project 2 (2U54CA180905-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10664807. Licensed CC0.

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