Behavioral Economic Assessment of Alcohol and Cigarette Demand in Smokers With Alcohol Use Disorder

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Behavioral economic purchase tasks are widely used to assess drug demand in substance use disorder research. Comorbid alcohol use is common among cigarette smokers and associated with greater difficulty in quitting smoking. However, demand for alcohol and cigarettes in this population has not been fully characterized. The present study addressed this gap by examining alcohol and cigarette demand among treatment-seeking smokers with alcohol use disorder (AUD).Methods: Alcohol and cigarette demand was assessed among 99 smokers with AUD. We conducted Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and correlational analyses on the demand indices.Results: Participants showed higher demand for alcohol than for cigarettes, as evidenced lower elasticity (resistance to increasing price) and higher Omax (maximum response output for drug). PCA revealed a two-factor structure (Persistence and Amplitude) for both alcohol and cigarette demand indices. Cigarette-related demand indices were positively correlated with nicotine dependence, but alcohol-related demand indices were not associated with alcohol dependence, suggesting dissociation between alcohol demand and use behaviors.Discussion and Conclusions: Our results suggest that smokers with AUD were more resistant to price elevations in relation to reducing alcohol consumption as compared to cigarette consumption, suggesting preferential demand for alcohol over cigarettes. However, it is unclear how acute substance exposure/withdrawal impacts the demand indices.Scientific Significance: Potentially differential alcohol and cigarette demands among smokers with AUD should be considered in the concurrent treatment of smoking and alcohol.

Examining the latent factor structure of a hypothetical cigarette purchase task among pregnant women.

“…The present study was conducted with the primary aim of examining the factor-loading pattern of a hypothetical CPT in a sample of pregnant women who smoke. The present study revealed a two-factor solution, interpreted as amplitude and persistence, consistent with prior research conducted in other populations including vulnerable populations (e.g., economically disadvantaged women, Higgins et al, 2020; adults with opioid use disorder, Higgins et al, 2020; adults with affective disorders, González-Roz et al, 2020; Higgins et al, 2020; adults with alcohol use disorder, Cui et al, 2021; and adolescents, Bidwell et al, 2012). O max and intensity loaded onto amplitude where all other indices and O max loaded onto persistence in the present study, which is largely consistent with prior studies where only intensity or intensity and O max loaded onto amplitude and all of the other indices loaded onto persistence.…”

“…This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly. et al, 2021;and adolescents, Bidwell et al, 2012). O max and intensity loaded onto amplitude where all other indices and O max loaded onto persistence in the present study, which is largely consistent with prior studies where only intensity or intensity and O max loaded onto amplitude and all of the other indices loaded onto persistence.…”

Topiramate decreases the salience of motivationally relevant visual cues among smokers with alcohol use disorder

“…AUD was determined using the MINI (Lecrubier et al, 1997). Behavioral economic measures related to alcohol and tobacco use were also collected and are described elsewhere (Cui et al, 2021).…”