# Modeling the Process of Nicotine Addiction among Youths and Young Adults and Its Potential Future Consequences

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2024 · $392,735

## Abstract

PROJECT 2 Abstract
Although the literature on nicotine addiction is extensive, the various mechanisms by which an adolescent is
exposed, experiments, and ultimately becomes addicted to a nicotine product, have not been studied in a
comprehensive manner. There are studies focusing on the biological effects of nicotine on the brain; the social
pressures confronting adolescents; and demographic and environmental factors such as race, gender, social
norms, socioeconomic status, and education, among others. However, no study has investigated how the
interactions among these factors influence an adolescent to start or quit using nicotine. This project proposes
to develop a novel comprehensive agent-based model of nicotine addiction among adolescents and young
adults, including the influence of environmental, social, and biological factors on individuals' behaviors towards
nicotine products (Aim 1). Use the model to explore potential pathways of nicotine addiction among
adolescents and young adults under different nicotine product mix availability, and the short-term
consequences of potential regulatory actions over such products, such as reducing nicotine in combustible
tobacco products to non-addictive levels but allowing higher levels of nicotine in non-combustible nicotine
delivery products (Aim 2). Project the likely long-term consequences of nicotine addiction among adolescents
and young adults, including tobacco-use-attributed premature deaths and life-years-lost, and long-term nicotine
dependence (Aim 3). This project will focus on Addiction, Behavior, Impact Analysis and Health Effects as
Scientific Domains (RFA-OD-22-04).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10932116
- **Project number:** 5U54CA229974-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** David Mendez Emilien
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $392,735
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-14 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10932116

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10932116, Modeling the Process of Nicotine Addiction among Youths and Young Adults and Its Potential Future Consequences (5U54CA229974-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10932116. Licensed CC0.

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