Does pack color change how you smoke? new study investigates
NCT ID NCT03802019
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether the color of a cigarette package changes how much people smoke, how much harm they are exposed to, and how risky they think the cigarettes are. Over 200 smokers used low-nicotine cigarettes in different colored packs (gray, red, blue, or plain) for 30 days. Researchers measured daily cigarette use, puffing behavior, and biomarkers of exposure like carbon monoxide and nicotine levels.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- low nicotine content cigarettes
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could inform how cigarette packaging influences smoking behavior and perceived risk, potentially guiding future tobacco regulations.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed observational study, not a treatment trial. Results may not apply to real-world settings or to smokers of regular nicotine cigarettes.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
219 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Sep 2019
- Finished
-
Aug 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
21 to 65 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Self-report smoking at least 5 non-menthol, filtered cigarettes per day for at least the last 12 months. * Not currently undergoing smoking cessation treatment or planning to quit over the duration of the study (\~5 weeks). * Plan to live in the area for the duration of the study. * Capable of giving written informed consent, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the combined consent and HIPAA form. * Able to communicate fluently in English (i.e., speaking, writing, and reading). Exclusion Criteria: * Smoke menthol cigarettes greater than 20% of the time. * Smoke cigarettes of non-standard circumference (e.g., wides, slim, capri, etc.) * Use of any nicotine containing products other than cigarettes. Participants reporting isolated use of other nicotine containing products less than 5 times per month are eligible to participate. * Attempt to quit smoking over the duration of the study period. * Provide a Carbon Monoxide (CO) reading less than 5 parts per million (ppm) at Session 1 (D0). * History of substance abuse (other than nicotine) in the past 12 months and/or currently receiving medical treatment for substance abuse. Attendance at alcoholics anonymous or narcotics anonymous meetings will not be considered medical treatment for the purposes of this protocol. * Current alcohol consumption that exceeds 25 standard drinks/week. * Women, including all individuals assigned as "female" at birth, who are pregnant, breast feeding, or planning a pregnancy over the duration of the study period. * Any impairment including, but not limited to, visual, physical, and/or neurological impairments preventing the proper completion of the study procedures. Notable impairments will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Principal Investigator and/or the Study Physician. * Color blindness. * Serious or unstable medical condition. Applicable conditions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Principal Investigator and/or the Study Physician. * Lifetime history of schizophrenia, psychosis, and/or bipolar disorder. * Current diagnosis of active major depression. Participants who maintain a diagnosis of major depression who have not experienced any major depressive episodes in the past 6 months and are stable on antidepressant medication(s) are eligible to participate. Additional, general reasons for exclusion include: * Past, current, anticipated, or pending enrollment in another research program over the study period that could potentially impact subject safety, study data, and/or the study design as determined by the Principal Investigator and/or Study Physician. * Any circumstance, medical condition, illness, disorder, adverse event (AE), or concomitant medication that could compromise participant safety or significantly impact study performance as determined by the Principal Investigator and/or Study Physician. Participants may be withdrawn for any of the aforementioned reasons at any point throughout the study. * Significant non-compliance with protocol and/or study design as determined by the Principal Investigator and/or Study Physician. Participants may be withdrawn at any point throughout the study.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Smoking, cigarette are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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
Locations
-
Center for Interdisciplinary Research for Nicotine Addiction
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Sweet flavors may boost Nicotine's pull — trial investigates
- Can spit reveal how smoking fuels gum disease?
- Which E-Cigarette designs are most addictive? a Head-to-Head test
- Kicking the habit in pregnancy may curb baby weight gain
- New strategies aim to boost lung cancer screening and save lives
- Breastfeeding boost may keep new moms off cigarettes