Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes + behavioral counseling

Very Low Nicotine Content (VLNC) Cigarettes combined with behavioral counseling is a therapeutic intervention developed by the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute for the treatment of nicotine dependence and smoking cessation. The approach utilizes cigarettes with significantly reduced nicotine levels (typically 0.4 mg/g of tobacco or less) to decouple the sensory and behavioral acts of smoking from the pharmacological reinforcement provided by nicotine. By maintaining the sensorimotor ritual of smoking while minimizing nicotine delivery to the brain's nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), the intervention aims to reduce physical dependence and craving. This pharmacological strategy is integrated with one-on-one behavioral counseling to address the psychological aspects of addiction and provide coping strategies for cessation. It is currently being evaluated in Phase 2 clinical trials to determine optimal tapering schedules and efficacy compared to standard cessation methods.

Other names

Reduced Nicotine CigarettesVery Low Nicotine Content CigarettesV-H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute-nicotine dependence