Kids hooked on tobacco more quickly, and on smaller amounts

... and girls more vulnerable: new research 

“

Children are rapidly hooked on tobacco products - over days rather than months - and on lower amounts than previously believed to be the case, according to new research that tracked more than 600 Year Seven students aged 12 -13 for 30 months.

The US study* in this week’s international journal Tobacco Control  examined the development of symptoms of tobacco dependence among children - finding that: 

• symptoms of tobacco dependence developed rapidly after the onset of intermittent smoking;

• there did not appear to be a minimum nicotine dose or duration of use as a prerequisite for symptoms to appear;

• girls tended to develop symptoms faster; and

• results supported the theory that loss of control over use is quick and early.  

The authors said that children were probably more vulnerable to nicotine dependency as their brains were still developing.

“This study has serious implications for the health of Australian children as 269,000 school students aged 12 –17 are already weekly smokers,” says Anne Jones, Chief Executive of ASH Australia.

“The youth market has been the target of tobacco companies for too long for the simple reason that children are quickly addicted with at least half becoming life long users,” she says.

Health groups in a submission to the Howard Government are calling for the establishment of an independent fund to reduce smoking rates - funded by an industry levy or surcharge on tobacco company profits.  

*Joseph R DiFranza MD et al, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA at  http://tc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/11/3/228

Comment:     Anne Jones  ph.  (02) 9334-1876; (m)  0417-227-879

Media inquiries:     Stafford Sanders         ph. (02) 9334-1823

Page last updated on 2/9/2002