Cancer Control Research
5R01CA077067-04
Difranza, Joseph R.
PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF THE ONSET OF NICOTINE DEPENDENCE
AbstractDESCRIPTION: (Applicant's Description)
Little is known about the process by which nicotine dependence develops
among adolescent tobacco users. This project will follow a cohort of 650
7th grade students over a period of three and one half years. These
subjects will be interviewed every four months during this period about
their experiences with tobacco. The tobacco use of these subjects will be
monitored in detail with specific attention to the duration of use, the
frequency of use and the amount of tobacco consumed. Subjects will be
monitored for the development of symptoms of nicotine dependence. The
following specific hypotheses will be addressed: 1) Symptoms of nicotine
dependence can appear within two months of the first use of tobacco. 2)
Symptoms of nicotine dependence can be present when consumption averages
less than one cigarette per day. 3) Youths can develop symptoms of nicotine
dependence prior to the onset of the daily use of tobacco. 4) The inability
to refrain from smoking where it is prohibited will not be an early symptom
of dependence.
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