Electronic Cigarettes as a Harm Reduction Strategy Among People Living With HIV/AIDS

Nicotine patch and gum will be given to subjects in the Nicotine replacement therapy cohort every visit after providing exhaled CO/Saliva cotinine test.

The MNWS assesses symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal (i.e., craving, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, increased appetite or weight gain, depression, and insomnia).

The ASSIST is the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. It is a brief screening questionnaire to find out about people's use of psychoactive substances (alcohol, smoking and substance involvement).

At each study visit, participants will receive counseling protocol that will be based on effective counseling manuals. The PI will train the research assistant who will assist the PI in tailoring the manual to the target group: counseling will cover health education, social support issues, and motivational enhancement to improve self-efficacy while addressing other aspects known to contribute to smoking among PLWHA (e.g., tips on dealing with depression and feeling stigmatized particularly in relation to HIV).

"NIDA SREC has a case with a liquid tank. The e-liquid is supplied in sealed disposable cartridges that deliver \>300 puffs / cartridge. The SREC uses a battery recharged via a micro USB port. A single charge is designed to outlast the capacity of an e-liquid cartridge. The e-liquid is tobacco flavored and contains nicotine."