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Nicotine Studies at NIDA

If you currently smoke cigarettes, you might be able to join one of our research studies. We have studies for people interested in quitting and for people who do not currently wish to quit. It’s free to join, and you will be paid for your time and local travel. All study participants receive ongoing medical care while they are in the study to monitor their health and safety.

Smoking Cessation Treatment — Biomarkers of Nicotine Addiction

Study ID: 485-TX

The purpose of this study is to develop new ways to measure nicotine dependence severity that may be useful in predicting success in smoking cessation and in development of new smoking cessation treatment targets. This study is accepting men and women who are 18 to 60 years of age, in generally good health, currently smoking cigarettes and interested in quitting smoking.

What will participants be asked to do?

  • Attend 16 visits over 1 year
  • 1 session for consent, orientation and training, lasting about 3–4 hours
  • Attend 6 MRI scans, total visit length is about 5 ½–6 ½ hours each, over a period of one year
  • Participate in a smoking cessation treatment plan
    • 12 weekly counseling (treatment) sessions, lasting about 1 hour each (virtual sessions are an option)
    • Optional nicotine replacement (e-cigarettes, nicotine patches, gum or lozenges) provided by study
  • Stop using all nicotine products for 2 days early in the study
  • Make a quit attempt and stop using all nicotine products for at least 1 year
  • 4 blood draws to obtain genetic and nicotine information
  • Brief medical assessment at each visit
  • Answer questionnaires about how you think and feel at each visit
  • Complete various thinking tasks inside and outside of the MRI

This study takes place at the NIDA Intramural Research Program located on the Johns Hopkins Bayview campus in east Baltimore. There is no cost for participation and participants are paid for their time and travel.

Do you have a few moments?
Call now for a confidential screening:
If right now isn't convenient,
tell us when to call you:

Non-Treatment Seeking Smokers - Biomarkers of Nicotine Addiction

Study ID: 485-NTX

The purpose of this study is to develop new ways to measure nicotine dependence severity that may be useful in guiding development of new smoking cessation treatment targets. This study is accepting men and women who are 18 to 60 years of age and in generally good health.

This study is looking for participants who are

  • Current smokers not interested in quitting at this time

For research purposes, all participants will be asked to:

  • Attend 1-3 visits
  • 1 session for consent, orientation and training, lasting about 3 hours
  • 1 MRI scan, total visit length is about 4 to 5 hours
  • 1 blood draw to obtain genetic information
  • Complete a brief medical assessment at each visit
  • Answer questionnaires about how you think at feel at each visit
  • Complete various thinking tasks inside and outside of the MRI

Additionally, current smokers will be asked to:

  • Stop using all nicotine products for 2 days
  • Complete an additional MRI scan, total visit length is about 4 to 5 hours
  • Complete another blood draw

This study takes place at the NIDA Intramural Research Program located on the Johns Hopkins Bayview campus in east Baltimore. There is no cost for participation and participants are paid for their time and travel.

Do you have a few moments?
Call now for a confidential screening:
If right now isn't convenient,
tell us when to call you:

Former Smokers - Biomarkers of Nicotine Addiction

Study ID: 485-EX

The purpose of this study is to develop new ways to measure nicotine dependence severity that may be useful in guiding development of new smoking cessation treatment targets. This study is accepting men and women who are 18 to 60 years of age and in generally good health.

This study is looking for participants who are

  • Past smokers who have successfully quit for at least 1 year

For research purposes, all participants will be asked to:

  • Attend 1-3 visits
  • 1 session for consent, orientation and training, lasting about 3 hours
  • 1 MRI scan, total visit length is about 4 to 5 hours
  • 1 blood draw to obtain genetic information
  • Complete a brief medical assessment at each visit
  • Answer questionnaires about how you think at feel at each visit
  • Complete various thinking tasks inside and outside of the MRI

This study takes place at the NIDA Intramural Research Program located on the Johns Hopkins Bayview campus in east Baltimore. There is no cost for participation and participants are paid for their time and travel.

Do you have a few moments?
Call now for a confidential screening:
If right now isn't convenient,
tell us when to call you: