Behavioral pharmacology study to inform the switching potential and abuse liability of tobacco-flavored and menthol-flavored pod-based electronic nicotine delivery systems with 5% nicotine concentration.

Abstract

To benefit public health, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) must be sufficiently satisfying to adults who smoke to promote switching away from cigarettes while presenting limited risk of persistent use and dependence among nonusers of tobacco products. This behavioral pharmacology study evaluated the abuse liability and switching potential of four pod-based ENDS (tobacco and menthol flavors) relative to cigarettes. U.S. adults who smoked cigarettes daily (N = 78; 51.3% female; Mage[SD] = 42.91 [9.84]; 53.8% non-Hispanic White; mean cigarettes/day [SD] = 14.42 [11.96]) completed a randomized five-arm crossover behavioral pharmacology study. On 5 separate days, participants used one of four pod-based ENDS, all with 5.0% nicotine concentrations (JUUL2 Virginia Tobacco, NJOY Ace Classic Tobacco, JUUL2 Fresh Menthol, JUUL Menthol 5.0%), or smoked their usual brand cigarette for 20 min ad libitum. After using each product, questionnaires assessed subjective reinforcing and sensory effects relevant to abuse liability and potential for switching away from cigarettes. All ENDS products were rated statistically significantly and meaningfully lower than usual brand cigarette on subjective reinforcing effects (ps < .001; Cohen's ds = 0.58-1.73). The tobacco- and menthol-flavored ENDS were generally rated similarly on measures of subjective reinforcing and sensory effects, but JUUL2 Fresh Menthol 5% was rated significantly higher than the other ENDS on the modified Product Evaluation Scale satisfaction subscale (ps ≤ .01; Cohen's ds = 0.38-0.59). The abuse liability of all tobacco- and menthol-flavored pod-based ENDS in this study is likely substantially lower than cigarettes. The results regarding subjective satisfaction suggest that the switching potential of JUUL2 Fresh Menthol 5% may be higher than tobacco-flavored ENDS. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).