Kids More Susceptible to Nicotine Addiction than Previously Understood: New Study
Young smokers can begin to feel powerfully attracted to smoking within two days of starting, and half report symptoms of physical dependence by the time they are smoking seven cigarettes a month, according to a study recently published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. It has generally been held by medical professionals that people had to smoke at least five cigarettes per day over an extended period of time to risk becoming addicted.
Researchers based the study on a sample of 1,246 Massachusetts sixth-graders, interviewing them 11 times over a four-year period. At some point in the four-year study, one third smoked a cigarette (though only 17% inhaled) and 7.5% came to use tobacco daily. Researchers say the study may shed light on what has been a long-held misunderstanding about the relationship of smoking to addiction. Though it has generally been believed that long-term heavy use of tobacco causes addiction, addiction could actually be the cause of long-term heavy tobacco use.
Previously on the D.C. Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
- Young female smokers face higher breast cancer risk
- Surgeon General highlights dangers of second-hand smoke
- Reducing risk factors cuts heart disease