STEPS: Substance Use Trial of E-cigarettes or Pharmacotherapy for Smoking

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether non-cigarette tobacco products, namely e-cigarettes (nicotine vapes), can help people who smoke and are in treatment for substance use disorder quit smoking by switching completely to e-cigarettes as compared to FDA-approved medications, namely nicotine replacement therapy in the form of patches and lozenges. Participation will last 6 months and will include five in-person study visits and eleven virtual assessments. Participants will also complete a short daily diary on their phones each day for the first twelve weeks. To qualify, participants must be within 30 days of SUD treatment program admission. This study is being conducted at three outpatient SUD treatment programs across South Carolina. These sites include: 1) the Center for Drug and Alcohol Problems (CDAP) in Charleston, SC, 2) Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County (BHSPC) in Pickens, SC, and 3) Shoreline Behavioral Health Services in Conway, SC. the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC, Behavioral Health Services in Pickens, SC, and the Medical University of South Carolina in Florence, SC.

NCT Number	NCT06922617
Lead Sponsor	Medical University of South Carolina Collaborators: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Conditions	Tobacco Use, Substance Use Disorders
Enrollment	240 participants
Start Date	2025-10-17
Primary Completion	2028-09-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-09-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-04-03