Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37271412›Full record

ArticleContemporary clinical trials2023

N-acetylcysteine for smoking cessation among dual users of tobacco and cannabis: Protocol and rationale for a randomized controlled trial.

Ellen D Herbst, David L Pennington, Brian Borsari, Jennifer Manuel, Matthew Yalch, Eric Alcid, Madeline Martinez Rivas, Joannalyn Delacruz, Nathan Rossi, Brianna Garcia and 2 more

Registry-linked trialOpen access · greenAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Contemporary clinical trials, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04627922 (N-Acetylcysteine for Smoking Cessation in Tobacco and Cannabis Co-Use), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 33% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04627922 phase4completednot on this map

N-Acetylcysteine for Smoking Cessation in Tobacco and Cannabis Co-Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorEllen HerbstRan2021 to 2025Enrolled41ConditionsCannabis Use, Tobacco Use Disorder, Drug Use DisorderArmsN-Acetyl cysteine, Placebo comparator, Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pharmacotherapies for cannabis use disorder.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Ellen D HerbstMental Health Service (116B), San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. Electronic address: ellen.herbst@va.gov.
David L PenningtonMental Health Service (116B), San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Brian BorsariMental Health Service (116B), San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Jennifer ManuelMental Health Service (116B), San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Matthew YalchDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
Eric AlcidMental Health Service (116B), San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Madeline Martinez RivasMental Health Service (116B), San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Joannalyn DelacruzMental Health Service (116B), San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Nathan RossiMental Health Service (116B), San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Brianna GarciaCalifornia Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Natalie WongMental Health Service (116B), San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Steven L BatkiMental Health Service (116B), San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
University of California, San Francisco · USCalifornia Institute of Technology · USPalo Alto University · US

Funding

TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCHERSR25MH060482 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI DANIEL H MATHALON, Susan M. Voglmaier · 2000 to 2026
$5.2M
Neuropsychobiology in Polysubstance Abusers during AbstinenceR01DA039903 · NIDA · NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE/RES/EDU · PI PENNINGTON, DAVID L · 2016 to 2021
$2.8M
Client Language Analysis in Veterans and Non-Veterans with Low Motivation to Quit Smoking: Identifying Mechanisms of ChangeI21HX003410 · VA · VETERANS AFFAIRS MED CTR SAN FRANCISCO · PI HERBST, ELLEN · 2021 to 2024
–
Neural Links of Approach Bias Modification in Heavy Drinking VeteransIK2CX001510 · VA · VETERANS AFFAIRS MED CTR SAN FRANCISCO · PI PENNINGTON, DAVID L · 2017 to 2022
–
CSRD VA IK2 CX001510HSRD VA I21 HX003410NIMH NIH HHS R25 MH060482
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTobacco and cannabis co-use is a growing public health problem. The synergistic effects of cannabis and nicotine on neurobiological systems that mediate reward and shared environmental cues reinforcing use may make tobacco smoking cessation more difficult. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an FDA-approved medication and over-the-counter supplement, has shown promise in animal studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in reducing tobacco and cannabis craving and use. NAC's potential efficacy in treating addiction may be attributable to its central nervous system effects in reducing excessive glutamatergic activity, oxidative stress, and inflammation. To date, no RCT has examined NAC for smoking cessation among dual users of tobacco and cannabis.

methodIn a double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT, we will examine NAC for smoking cessation among dual users of tobacco and cannabis. Sixty adult cigarette-cannabis co-users are randomized to receive NAC 3600 mg per day or placebo over 8 weeks. Participants in both groups receive 8 weekly cognitive behavioral therapy sessions addressing smoking cessation and cannabis reduction. Outcomes are assessed at Weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12. Primary aims are to determine NAC's efficacy in decreasing cigarette craving, nicotine dependence, and use; and cannabis craving and use. Exploratory aims include examination of changes in neurocognition with NAC and their potential mediational effects on cigarette and cannabis use outcomes.

conclusionResults will inform smoking cessation treatment among dual users of tobacco and cannabis. CLINICALTRIALS: gov Identifier: NCT04627922.

Indexed as

CannabisSmoking CessationTobacco Use DisorderAcetylcysteineAdultHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAcetylcysteineCannabis usePharmacotherapyRandomized clinical trialSmoking cessationTobacco-cannabis co-use

Identifiers

PMID37271412
PMCPMC10847050
OpenAlexW4379140807

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.