VapingNCT06885606
The Use of tDCS for Vaping Reduction
A study testing Active tDCS in people with Vaping and Addiction, run by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
Project Summary - tDCS for Vaping Reduction Background: While the prevalence of tobacco smoking has plateaued over the last several years, the prevalence of nicotine vaping (e-cigarettes) continues to increase exponentially in Canada. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Vaping, Addiction, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation(tDCS)
- What is being tested?
- Active tDCS
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2026to May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- The participant must meet all of the inclusion criteria to be eligible for this research study:
- Be able to provide informed written consent
- Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures
- Age 18 - 65 years
- Is a daily regular use of nicotine-containing e-cigarette for at least the past 6 months
- Is willing to attend daily appointments for tDCS for two consecutive weeks (Monday through Friday)
- Is not interested in or planning to quit vaping in the next 30 days.
Who cannot join
- An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this research study:
- Substance use disorder (other than nicotine dependence) (M.I.N.I. SCID) (confirmed with urine drug screen)
- Current regular use of tobacco cigarettes, nicotine replacement therapy or other medications for smoking cessation
- Unstable psychiatric condition
- Recent clinically significant head trauma*
- History of seizures and/or epilepsy*
Show all 9Show fewer
- Pacemakers or implanted electrical devices such as cochlear implants*
- Metal embedded in the skull*
- Skin lesions, open wounds, bruising, or similar injuries on the scalp*
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Canada1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1H4
Laurie A ZAWERTAILO, PhD, 4166667395, laurie.zawertailo@camh.ca
Eunice Chen, MSc, 416-535-8501 ext. 77422, yixuan.chen@camh.ca
About this study
Official title: Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Vaping Reduction in Daily E-cigarette Users: a Pilot Study
Project Summary - tDCS for Vaping Reduction
Background: While the prevalence of tobacco smoking has plateaued over the last several years, the prevalence of nicotine vaping (e-cigarettes) continues to increase exponentially in Canada. Originally touted as a safe alternative to smoking, e-cigarette use or vaping is now most popular among youth and young adults. The high prevalence of e-cigarette use, coupled with growing evidence of associated harms and reports of addiction and difficulties in quitting reinforces the urgent need to develop and test methods to attenuate e-cigarette craving as a step towards developing approaches to vaping cessation that are brief, inexpensive and effective. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have become a popular area of research as a treatment option for substance use disorders with growing evidence of their effectiveness for a variety of addictions. One of these techniques, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), has been shown to decrease cigarette craving and consumption. Thus, the purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using tDCS for vaping reduction in e-cigarette users.
Read more
Methods: This will be a double-blind sham-controlled randomized trial whereby 40 daily nicotine-containing e-cigarette users will be recruited to undergo 10 consecutive daily sessions of tDCS (Monday to Friday for 2 weeks). Participants will be randomized (1:1) to either sham (0mA) or active tDCS (2mA), with the anode at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and cathode at the right DLPFC. The primary outcome is vaping frequency (puffs/day and nicotine pods/week) at end of treatment (2 weeks). The secondary outcome will be e-cigarette craving. Participants will be followed-up via the phone at 1 month and 3 months post randomization respectively.
Implication: This will be the first treatment study to target vaping reduction. There are currently no established treatment options for e-cigarette addiction and medications traditionally used for smoking cessation only address withdrawal symptoms and not addiction pathology. Thus, findings from this study may be used to inform future designs of vaping reduction strategies or vaping cessation.
- Being tested
- Active tDCS, Sham tDCS
- Keywords
- E-cigarettes, Vaping, Brain stimulation, tDCS, Nicotine
- Medical subject headings
- Vaping, Behavior, Addictive
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Active tDCSDevice
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that involves brief (e.g., 20-min) application of weak electric current (e.g., 2 mA) to the scalp. Active tDCS intervention increases excitability of neurons at the anode with 20-30% of the current going through the brain from anode to cathode so that both cortical and subcortical structures are stimulated. The procedure is very safe, convenient, and fast-acting with well-established parameters. It has the ability to modulate plasticity in specific brain areas and has established efficacy in human laboratory models of addictive motivation and has been shown to decrease craving for cigarettes when the anode is placed over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
Sham tDCSDevice
Sham tDCS applies a 2mA current for the initial 30 seconds, followed by 0 mA for the remaining 19.5 minutes to simulate active tDCS stimulation. The cathode electrode is placed on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the anode is positioned on the left DLPFC, aligned with the electrode placement used in active tDCS.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Active tDCS stimulation group | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Device: Active tDCS |
| Sham tDCS stimulation group | Sham comparator | Sham tDCS applies a 2mA current for the initial 30 seconds, followed by 0 mA for the remaining 19.5 minutes to simulate active tDCS stimulation. The cathode electrode is placed on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the anode is positioned on the left DLPFC, aligned with the electrode placement used in active tDCS. Receives: Device: Sham tDCS |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Explore the efficacy of tDCS for reducing vaping use.
The primary outcome is frequency of vape use at end of treatment (2 week period), measured by self-reported vaping frequency (puffs/day) and nicotine pods/week (estimate total nicotine consumed per week).
Measured: 2 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Explore changes in craving that are associated with tDCS intervention.
The secondary outcome of this study will be e-cigarette craving at end of treatment (2 week period), as well as vaping use at 3 months follow up.
Measured: 2 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Mar 2025
- Study start1 Jan 2026
- Primary completionApr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionMay 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for VapingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Laurie Zawertailo, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06885606
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 007/2023
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Dec 2023
- Last updated
- 19 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Vaping Reduction in Daily E-cigarette Users: a Pilot Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06885606
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 007/2023
- Keywords
- E-cigarettes, Vaping, Brain stimulation, tDCS, Nicotine
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- May 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Project Summary - tDCS for Vaping Reduction
Background: While the prevalence of tobacco smoking has plateaued over the last several years, the prevalence of nicotine vaping (e-cigarettes) continues to increase exponentially in Canada. Originally touted as a safe alternative to smoking, e-cigarette use or vaping is now most popular among youth and young adults. The high prevalence of e-cigarette use, coupled with growing evidence of associated harms and reports of addiction and difficulties in quitting reinforces the urgent need to develop and test methods to attenuate e-cigarette craving as a step towards developing approaches to vaping cessation that are brief, inexpensive and effective. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have become a popular area of research as a treatment option for substance use disorders with growing evidence of their effectiveness for a variety of addictions. One of these techniques, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), has been shown to decrease cigarette craving and consumption. Thus, the purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using tDCS for vaping reduction in e-cigarette users.
Methods: This will be a double-blind sham-controlled randomized trial whereby 40 daily nicotine-containing e-cigarette users will be recruited to undergo 10 consecutive daily sessions of tDCS (Monday to Friday for 2 weeks). Participants will be randomized (1:1) to either sham (0mA) or active tDCS (2mA), with the anode at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and cathode at the right DLPFC. The primary outcome is vaping frequency (puffs/day and nicotine pods/week) at end of treatment (2 weeks). The secondary outcome will be e-cigarette craving. Participants will be followed-up via the phone at 1 month and 3 months post randomization respectively.
Implication: This will be the first treatment study to target vaping reduction. There are currently no established treatment options for e-cigarette addiction and medications traditionally used for smoking cessation only address withdrawal symptoms and not addiction pathology. Thus, findings from this study may be used to inform future designs of vaping reduction strategies or vaping cessation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Active tDCS stimulation group | Active comparator | Device: Active tDCS |
| Sham tDCS stimulation group | Sham comparator | Device: Sham tDCSSham tDCS applies a 2mA current for the initial 30 seconds, followed by 0 mA for the remaining 19.5 minutes to simulate active tDCS stimulation. The cathode electrode is placed on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the anode is positioned on the left DLPFC, aligned with the electrode placement used in active tDCS. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- The participant must meet all of the inclusion criteria to be eligible for this research study:
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this research study:
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Active tDCSTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that involves brief (e.g., 20-min) application of weak electric current (e.g., 2 mA) to the scalp. Active tDCS intervention increases excitability of neurons at the anode with 20-30% of the current going through the brain from anode to cathode so that both cortical and subcortical structures are stimulated. The procedure is very safe, convenient, and fast-acting with well-established parameters. It has the ability to modulate plasticity in specific brain areas and has established efficacy in human laboratory models of addictive motivation and has been shown to decrease craving for cigarettes when the anode is placed over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). | Device | Active tDCS stimulation group |
| Sham tDCSSham tDCS applies a 2mA current for the initial 30 seconds, followed by 0 mA for the remaining 19.5 minutes to simulate active tDCS stimulation. The cathode electrode is placed on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the anode is positioned on the left DLPFC, aligned with the electrode placement used in active tDCS. | Device | Sham tDCS stimulation group |
Primary outcome
Explore the efficacy of tDCS for reducing vaping use.
Time frame: 2 weeks
The primary outcome is frequency of vape use at end of treatment (2 week period), measured by self-reported vaping frequency (puffs/day) and nicotine pods/week (estimate total nicotine consumed per week).
1 secondary outcome
Explore changes in craving that are associated with tDCS intervention.
Time frame: 2 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Vaping
Active, not recruiting
Mindful Breaths: Mindfulness for Young Adult Vaping
Vaping Cessation
Recruiting
Young Adult Tobacco/Nicotine and Cannabis Co-use
Tobacco Use Disorder, Nicotine Dependence
Recruiting
Social Media Support Groups for Adolescent Vaping Cessation
Vaping, Vaping Cessation
Not yet recruitingEarly Phase 1
Lung Health and Breath Biomarkers: Acute Effects of Inhaled Cannabis
Cannabis Use, Tobacco
RecruitingObservational study
§SMOKE Nicotine and Tobacco Youth Cohort
Tobacco Use Behavior, Nicotine Dependence Tobacco Product
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Active tDCS in people with Vaping and Addiction, run by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Eunice Chen, M.Sc. ((416) 535-8501 ext. 77283, yixuan.chen@camh.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Explore the efficacy of tDCS for reducing vaping use. (time frame: 2 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Mar 2026.