Cash for quitters: homeless smokers get paid to stay smoke-free
NCT ID NCT04445662
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether offering financial rewards for staying smoke-free helps homeless smokers quit. 184 participants received varenicline (Chantix) and coaching, with some also getting escalating cash rewards for passing saliva tests. The goal was to see if incentives boost abstinence at 12 and 24 weeks.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- varenicline (Chantix) and financial incentives
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that adding financial rewards to standard smoking cessation treatments helps homeless smokers quit more effectively.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed trial with 184 participants, so results are limited in size. Financial incentives may not lead to long-term abstinence, and varenicline can cause side effects like nausea or sleep disturbances.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
-
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, United States
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