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August 12, 2007

Young smokers may become addicted to nicotine quickly, research finds

The New York Times (7/31, F7, Bakalar) reports, "A young cigarette smoker can begin to feel powerful desires for nicotine within two days of first inhaling, a new study has found, and about half of children who become addicted report symptoms of dependence by the time they are smoking only seven cigarettes a month," according to a study published in the July issue of The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Joseph R. DiFranza, M.D., a professor of family medicine at the University of Massachusetts, and colleagues, "recruited 1,246 sixth-grade volunteers in public schools in Massachusetts, interviewing them 11 times over a four-year period. They also took saliva samples to determine blood levels of nicotine and link them to addictive behavior."

Since "inhaling is required for sufficient drug delivery to cause dependence, the researchers limited their analysis" to the "217 inhalers in the group." The average age of first-time inhalers "was 12.8 years. Of these, almost 60 percent had lost some control over their smoking, and 38 percent developed tobacco dependence."

In the "10 percent of children who were most susceptible, cravings began within two days of the first inhalation, and saliva analysis showed that being dependent did not require high blood levels of nicotine throughout the day. In some cases, dependence could be diagnosed as early as 13 days after the first smoking episode."

According to Dr. DiFranza, "People used to think that long-term heavy use caused addiction. Now, we know it's the other way around: addiction is what causes long-term heavy use."

Posted by admin at August 12, 2007 11:08 PM