The CEASE Research Program

Program Name: Collaborative Efforts for Actions in Stopping and Ending tobacco/nicotine use.

Staff

• Elizabeth Niewojna Amaya, MEd, LPCC, LCPC, Part time CEASE staff

Students

• Current Students
  • Kathleen Clouse, PharmD Candidate 2028
• Recent
  • Kanchan Bhattarai, DNP, FNP-C
  • Jillian Doan, DNP, FNP-C
  • Nazia Riasat, MS

Collaborators

• Current outside collaborators: The North Dakota Health and Human Services (NDHHS) Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center, The North Dakota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (NDAAP)
• NDSU collaborators:
  • NDSU Nursing
    • Mykell Barnacle, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
    • Allison Peltier, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
    • Heidi Saarinen, DNP, RN, FNP-C
    • Kathleen Swanson, DNP, RN
    • Nancy Turrubiates, DNP, MSN, RN
  • Pharmacy Practice
    • Brody Maack, PharmD, CTTS
    • Donald R. Miller, PharmD, FASHP
• Other recent collaborators:
  • Maciej Goniewicz, PhD, PharmD – Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Katherine Steward, PhD - Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Background

The CEASE research team has been funded consistently at the North Dakota State University since 2014 to conduct research in tobacco prevention and control, including tobacco free environments, evaluation of electronic cigarettes, and systems change for nicotine and dependence treatment. The primary funder has been the North Dakota Health and Human Services (NDHHS) Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. NDDHHS is providing funding for CEASE to support North Dakota’s Comprehensive Tobacco Prevention and Control State Plan. The State Plan is based on the Centers for Disease Control Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs. In recognition of the multi-disciplinary faculty contributing to the grant from multiple NDSU departments and colleges, in 2025, we agreed to name ourselves CEASE. CEASE is an acronym for: Collaborative Efforts for Actions in Stopping and Ending tobacco/nicotine use.

Current Grant

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Orr, M., Petry, N., Schaeffer, K., Schmitz, K., and Wolf, K. (7/1/2025-6/30/2026). NDQuits Youth Treatment (NDQYT). Funded by North Dakota Health and Human Services. $253,584.

Publications

• Below are recent publications and presentations of the CEASE Team.
• For full information, please go to: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=qOtK3cAAAAAJ&hl=en

Journal Articles (Published and Peer-reviewed)

(2024). A review of vaping health effects, treatment, and policy implications: Nursing’s call to action. The Nurse Practitioner, 49(9), 36-47, September 2024, DOI: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000000000000221

(2024). Nursing leadership in tobacco dependence treatment to advance health equity: An American of Academy of Nursing policy manuscript. Nursing Outlook, 72(5), September-October 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102236

(2024). Development of a flavor ingredient wheel linking e-liquid additives to labeled flavor of vaping products. Toxics, 12(5), 372, May 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12050372

(2021). E-cigarettes for tobacco cessation: Not the solution. The Nurse Practitioner, 46(12):7-11. doi: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000798228.69915.64 https://journals.lww.com/tnpj/Fulltext/2021/12000/E_cigarettes_for_tobacco_cessation__Not_the.2.aspx

(2021) Compliance with North Dakota’s smoke‐free law among vape and tobacco specialty shops. Public Health Nursing, 38(5), 878-884. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12916

(2021). Electronic cigarette refill liquids: Nicotine content, presence of child-resistant packaging, and in-shop compounding. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 50, 45-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.12.016

(2020). A systematic review of refillable e-liquid nicotine content accuracy. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 61, 20-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2020.09.006

(2019). Disparities in rural tobacco use, smoke-free policies, and tobacco taxes. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 41(8), 1184-1202. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945919828061 (Invited manuscript).

(2018). Systems change to improve tobacco use identification and referral in the chiropractic setting: A pilot study. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 26(45), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-018-0214-y [Databased].

(2018). Place and policy: Secondhand smoke in restaurants and bars. Nursing Research, 67(4), 324-330. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000286 [Databased].

(2017). Tobacco smoke pollution in hospitality venues before and after passage of statewide smoke-free legislation. Public Health Nursing, 34(2), 166–175. doi:10.1111/phn.12301 [Databased].

(2017). An observational study of compliance with North Dakota’s smoke-free law among retail stores that sell electronic smoking devices. Tobacco Control, 26, 452-454. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052888 [Databased].

(2016). Electronic cigarette refill liquids: Child-resistant packaging, nicotine content, and sales to minors. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 31(4), 373-379. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2016.03.019 [Databased].

PRESENTATIONS

Refereed Conference Presentations
Podium (Peer-Reviewed)
International Podium (Peer-Reviewed)

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Maack, B., Larson, M., McDaniel, B., Miller, D., Orr, M., & Mills, K. (2017, October 29). Developing healthcare system changes for tobacco cessation in a nontraditional provider setting: A pilot study. 2017 Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing: 44th Biennial Conference, Indianapolis, IN. [Databased].

National Podium (Peer-Reviewed)

Barnacle, M., Peltier, A., Buettner-Schmidt, K., Schaeffer Fraase, K., Maack, B., Saarinen, H., & Turrubiates, N. (2025, 28). A review of vaping’s health effects, treatment, and policy implications: Nursing’s call to action. [Panel presentation]. 2025 National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Chicago, IL.

Corr, K., Wanner, H., Hursman, A., Maack, B., Rubinstein, E.B., Petry, N.J., Buettner-Schmidt, K. (2024, October 29). If We Can Get Them to Stop, They Can Have Such a Better Life”: Implementation of Tobacco Dependence Treatment Services in North Dakota Community Pharmacies. [Oral Podium Presentation]. APHA 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo, Minneapolis, MN.

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Schaeffer Fraase, K., Wolf, K., & Doan, J. (2024, April 19). Impact of Menthol in Tobacco, E-Cigarettes, & Nicotine Products: A Systematic Review. [Oral Podium Presentation]. 2024 Western Institute of Nursing Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.

Schaeffer Fraase, K., Buettner-Schmidt, K., Goniewicz, M., Steward, K., Miller, D., Orr, M., Rykal, K., Niewonja, E. (2022, June 29). Zombie blood & pixie tears: What's in a name? A comprehensive methodology for e-liquid label analysis. [Oral Podium Presentation]. 2022 National Conference on Tobacco or Health, New Orleans, LA.

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Miller, Donald, R., Maack, B., Larson, M.F., Orr, M., McDaniel, B., & Mills, K.R. (2018, March 9). Transitioning clinic systems for effective tobacco use identification and treatment referral. 2018 Association of Chiropractic Colleges Research Agenda Conference, Dallas, TX. [Databased].

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Maack, B., Larson, M., McDaniel, B., Orr, M., Miller, D., & Mills, K. (2017, November 6) Systems change in chiropractic clinics for identification and treatment or referral of tobacco users. 2017 Annual American Public Health Association Meeting and Expo, Atlanta, GA.

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Miller, D., & Balasubramanian, N. (2016, March 18). E-liquid nicotine content and safety packaging; vape stores promotional methods and legal compliance. Midwest Nursing Research Society 2016 Annual Research Conference, Milwaukee, WI. [Databased].

State Podium (Peer-Reviewed)

Schaeffer, K. & Buettner-Schmidt, K. (2025, May 19-21). From packaging to policy: Categorizing e-liquids. [Invited oral presentation]. Inaugural North Dakota Public Health Conference, May 19-21, 2025

Buettner-Schmidt, K. & Schaeffer, K. (2025, April 15). Vaping’s health effects, treatment, and policy implications: A review. [Oral presentation]. North Dakota Society for Respiratory Care Annual Conference, April 16, 2025

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Schaeffer, K., Wolf, K., Miller, D., Orr, M, and Doan, J. (2025, January 28). Impact of menthol in tobacco products. [Conference session]. 10th Annual Nicotine Dependence Conference, CHI St. Alexius Health, Bismarck, ND.

Buettner-Schmidt, K. (2018, October 25). Unobtrusive data collection: Discreet methods. North Dakota Center for Nursing. Nursing’s Role in Transforming Health Care Fourth Annual Conference. Mandan, ND.

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Larson, M., Hager, A., Heim, H., Maack, B., & Mills, K. (2017, June 14). Changing systems: Chiropractors as potential providers of the U.S. Public Health Service’s clinical practice guidelines, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependency: 2008 Update. 2017 Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health, Minot, ND. [Databased].

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Miller, D., Andrist, B., & Balasubramanian, N. (2016, May 17). Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids: What you need to know. 2016 Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health, Grand Forks, ND. [Databased].

Posters (Peer-Reviewed)
International Posters (Peer-Reviewed)

Buettner-Schmidt, K. (2024, November 15). Health systems changes for tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment (TNDT) in cancer care and other clinical settings. 2024 Latin America Conference on Lung Cancer, Bogota, Columbia.

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Steward, K., Goniewicz, M., Miller, D., Orr, M., Schaeffer Fraase, K. (2023, March 2). Categorizing e-liquid flavorings and other ingredients using a novel ingredient wheel. 2023 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.

Schaeffer Fraase, K., Buettner-Schmidt, K., Miller, D., Orr, M, (2023, March 4). Evaluation of ends package designs: findings and policy implications. 2023 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Orr, M., Miller, D., Balasubramanian, G., & Mills, K. (2019, October 25). E-liquids purchase on-site: Nicotine concentration accuracy, child-resistance, and flavorings. A preliminary analysis. Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Oceania, Sydney, Australia.

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Maack, B., & Miller, D. (2019, February 21). Disparities in rural tobacco use and best practice policies. 2019 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 25^th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.

Buettner-Schmidt, K., & Andrist, B. (2017, October 6). Leading electronic nicotine delivery device regulation. American Academy of Nursing 2017 Transforming Health, Driving Policy Conference. Washington, DC.

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Larson, M., Maack, B., Orr, M., McDaniel, B., Miller, D., & Mills, K. (2017, July 29). Identification of barriers, facilitators, and recommendation for chiropractic health systems change for tobacco cessation activities. 2017 Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing: 29^th International Nursing Research Congress, Dublin, Ireland. [Databased].

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Orr, M., Miller, D., Larson, M., Maack, B., McDaniel, B., & Mill, K. (2017, March 10). Systems changes for tobacco cessation in chiropractic clinics: A survey of population and provider characteristics in North Dakota, USA. 2017 Society of Research and Tobacco Conference, Florence, Italy. [Databased].

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Miller, D., & Balasubramanian, N. (2016, March 3). Nicotine content and child-resistant packaging of electronic cigarette refill liquids and vape store compliance with state smoke-free laws. 2016 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 22^nd Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. [Databased].

National Posters (Peer-Reviewed)

Schmitz, K., Petry, N., Orr, M., Schaeffer, K., Wolf, K., Clouse, K., & Buettner-Schmidt, K. (2025, November). Expanding and promoting youth tobacco/nicotine dependence treatment efforts in North Dakota amongst adolescent health care clinicians: Focus group findings. [Poster]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo, Washington, DC.

Maack, B., Petry, N., Buettner-Schmidt, K., et al. (2025, August 26). We’ve got pharmacies in communities that don’t have healthcare”: Transforming tobacco and nicotine treatment in rural and underserved communities. [Poster presentation]. 2025 National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Chicago, IL

Petry, N., Buettner-Schmidt, K, Wolf, K., & Schaeffer Fraase, K. (2025, August 27). Evaluation of studies examining nicotine content for e-liquids and other emerging or novel tobacco products, including nicotine-free tobacco and synthetic nicotine products. [Poster presentation]. 2025 National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Chicago, IL.

Schaeffer, K., Buettner-Schmidt, K., Steward, K., Goniewicz, M.L., Orr, M., & Miller, D.R. (2025, August 26). Beyond the label: Categorizing e-liquid Page 10 of 13 ingredients to influence policy change. [Poster presentation]. 2025 National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Chicago, IL.

Schaeffer Fraase, K., Buettner-Schmidt, K., Miller, D., Orr, M. (2024, April 19). Sounding the alarm regarding ends marketing: Nursing's call to action. [Poster presentation]. 2024 Western Institute of Nursing Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.

Black B, Coleman C, Maack B, Miller D, Buettner-Schmidt K, Hursman A, Petry N, Rubinstein E. (2022, December) Pharmacist-Provided Tobacco Treatment Services: Implementation for Reimbursement and Sustainability. Poster accepted for presentation at: 2022 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Meeting; December 2022; Las Vegas, NV.

Hursman A, Maack B, Petry N, Rubinstein E, Miller D, Buettner-Schmidt, K. (2022, May) Evaluation of Pharmacist-delivered Clinical Services and Reimbursement. Poster presented at: 2022 American College of Clinical Pharmacy Virtual Poster Symposium; May 2022; Virtual.

Miller, D., Buettner-Schmidt, K., Orr, M., Rykal, K., Niewonja, E. (2022, June 28). E-liquids: A systematic review of nicotine content accuracy. #59 [Poster presentation]. 2022 National Conference on Tobacco or Health, New Orleans, LA.

Mykell, B., Buettner-Schmidt, K., Swanson, K., Maack, B., Miller, D., Orr, M., Hatlen Gag, M. (2022, June 29). Are e-cigarettes for tobacco cessation the right solution? #221 [Poster presentation]. 2022 National Conference on Tobacco or Health, New Orleans, LA.

Buettner-Schmidt, K. (2019, August 27). Nicotine content in e-liquid refills: A literature synthesis with implications for youth and for federal, state, and local regulations and policies. National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Minneapolis, MN.

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Charvat, N., & Boots, C. (2019, August 27). Making a case for e-cig policy: Publicizing state and national evaluation and surveillance data. National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Minneapolis, MN.

Invited State Presentations Non-Refereed

Buettner-Schmidt, K. & Schaeffer Fraase, K. (2022, November 8). E-Liquid analysis: A very brief update. [Invited Podium]. Quarterly Partners Meeting of the ND Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. ND Department of Health and Human Services, Bismarck, ND.

Buettner-Schmidt, K. & Schaeffer Fraase, K. (2022, February 10). Say what?! That’s my vape! ND ENDS Summit 3.0: Addressing electronic delivery systems and vaping in North Dakota. ND Department of Health. Virtual.

Buettner-Schmidt, K. (2020, December 8). E-liquid and shops: North Dakota and beyond. ND ENDS Summit 2020: Addressing electronic delivery systems and vaping in North Dakota. ND Department of Health. Virtual.

Buettner-Schmidt, K. (2019, May 8). Vape shops, e-liquids, and public policy considerations. ND Department of Health. ENDS Summit: Addressing the vaping epidemic in North Dakota. Bismarck, ND.

Buettner-Schmidt, K., & Turrubiates, N. (2019, January 25). Tobacco Policy in North Dakota. Nursing Student Association North Dakota Annual Conference. Fargo, ND.

Maack, B., & Buettner-Schmidt, K. (2018, October 5). Pharmacy technician’s role in tobacco cessation. Northland Association of Pharmacy Technicians 2018 Annual Fall Conference. Fargo, ND.

Maack, B., Buettner-Schmidt, K., & Miller, D. (2018, April 21). Are we doing enough? Community pharmacists’ role in tobacco cessation. 2018 ND Annual Pharmacy Convention, Fargo, ND.

Buettner-Schmidt, K. (2016, March 31). Keynote Speaker: Saving Lives & Transforming Health: The Power of Nursing Evidence to Reduce ND’s Leading Cause of Death. North Dakota Center for Nursing 2^nd Annual Conference: Nursing’s Role in Transforming Healthcare. North Dakota Center for Nursing, Fargo, ND. (Podium, Invited).

Buettner-Schmidt, K., Miller, D., & Balasubramanian, N. (2015, October 28). E-liquids and Vape Stores in ND: Selected Findings. October 2015 Training Session, Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy, Bismarck, ND. (Invited). [Databased].