Determinants of nicotine dependence among adolescent smokers

Audience: Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Most adults began using tobacco as adolescents. Adolescent tobacco users are the target audience.

Key Points: Data from 1295 adolescents were extracted from 28 Not-On-Tobacco program studies conducted between 1998 and 2010. Nicotine dependence was measured via the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ). A total score was obtained by summing raw scores of each item in FTQ with a total score>5 classified as high nicotine dependence. Determinants of adolescent nicotine dependence were identified using logistic regression analysis. After adjusting for age, gender and race, the number of cigarettes smoked per day (OR=1.213, 95%CI: 1.173-1.255), use of the smokeless tobacco (OR=1.912, 95%CI: 1.062-3.441), having close friends who are smokers (OR=1.636, 95%CI: 1.167-2.293), and confidence in quitting smoking (OR=0.260, 95%CI: 0.094-0.716) were found to be significant determinants for high nicotine dependence.

Educational Experience: Our study suggested that the number of cigarettes smoked per day, consuming smokeless tobacco, and having close friends who are smokers are key factors associated with adolescent nicotine dependence.

Benefits: Many of the factors contributing to the smoking initiation have been reported previously, however, few have focused on the relationship between nicotine dependence and social and environmental factors among adolescents. This study adds important messages to the existing literature and may help formulate effective strategies in smoking cessation among adolescent.