Trial Outcomes & Findings for N-Acetylcysteine for Smoking Cessation in Tobacco and Cannabis Co-Use (NCT NCT04627922)

59 potential participants signed consent and were assessed for eligibility to participate. 18 of the 59 potential participants were determined to be not eligible to participate and were not enrolled onto the study. A total of 41 eligible participants were enrolled onto the study and randomized to one of the two treatments conditions. This study employed an intent-to-treat model whereby all participants randomized to a treatment condition will be used as the denominator for analyses.

N-Acetylcysteine for Smoking Cessation in Tobacco and Cannabis Co-Use

Days of cannabis use will be determined by weekly self-report use of cannabis assessed with Timeline Follow-back (TLFB) which uses a calendar with specific anchor dates to identify the number of 'use days'. The change in the mean number of days reported at baseline and at the week 12 visit will be reported by group.

Weekly self-report use of cigarettes will be assessed with Timeline Follow-back (TLFB) which uses a calendar with specific anchor dates to identify the quantity of use. The change in the mean number of cigarettes used reported at baseline and at the week 12 visit will be reported by group.

Weekly self-report use of cigarettes will be assessed with Timeline Follow-back (TLFB) which uses a calendar with specific anchor dates to identify the frequency of use. The change in the mean number of days reported at baseline and at the week 12 visit will be reported by group.

Biochemically verified abstinence is defined as a participant self-report of not smoking and a saliva sample to detect the presence or absence of salivary cotinine. Salivary cotinine tests are an established method to biochemically verify a participant's reported smoking status.

Biochemically verified abstinence is defined as a participant self-report of not smoking and a saliva sample to detect the presence or absence of salivary cotinine. Salivary cotinine tests are an established method to biochemically verify a participant's reported smoking status.

The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence is a standard instrument for assessing the intensity of physical addiction to nicotine. It contains six items that evaluate the quantity of cigarette consumption, the compulsion to use, and dependence. In scoring the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, yes/no items are scored from 0 to 1 and multiple-choice items are scored from 0 to 3. The items are summed to yield a total score of 0-10. The higher the total Fagerström score, the more intense is the patient's physical dependence on nicotine. The change in the average score by group will be reported.

The QSU-Brief consists of 10 statements about the respondent's feelings and thoughts about his or her desire to smoke cigarettes as he or she is completing the questionnaire (i.e., right now). Each response is scored a number ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The items are summed to yield a total score of 10-70. Higher total scores indicate stronger current smoking urges. The change in the average total score between baseline and week 12 will be reported by group.

This questionnaire was designed for self-administration and is scored by adding each of the 8 items relating to cannabis use over the past six months. Question 1-7 are scored on a 0-4 scale Question 8 is scored 0,2, or 4. Total score is calculated by summing the items for a total score of 0-32. Total scores of 8 or more indicate hazardous cannabis use, while total scores of 12 or more indicate a possible cannabis use disorder for which further intervention may be required. The change in the average total score between baseline and week 12 will be reported by group.

This 12-item multidimensional measure assesses cannabis craving based on 4 factors: Compulsivity, Emotionality, Expectancy, Purposefulness. Each item asks about the respondent's feelings and thoughts about smoking marijuana as he or she is completing the questionnaire (i.e., right now). Each response is scored a number ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Each of the 4 factors (subscales) consist of 3 items which are scored by taking the total of the responses in that scale for a total possible subscale score of 3-21. The total score is calculated by summing the total scores for the 4 subscales for a total score range of 12-84 The change in the average total score from baseline to week 12 will be reported by group.