Smokers with ONE cigarette per day can be ‘addicted to nicotine’

Even people who smoke only as little as once a day – and who think of themselves as preventative smokers – can be addicted to nicotine and in need of treatment, a study said.

U.S. experts surveyed more than 6,700 smokers assessed for addiction – finding that two-thirds of those who smoked 1-4 cigarettes per day were slaves.

However, the team noted that the frequency of more severe additives seemed to increase with the number of cigarettes smoked per day.

The findings, they concluded, reinforce the importance of properly assessing the risk of addiction in all smokers – including those with increased leg use.

‘In the past, some thought that only patients who smoke around 10 cigarettes a day or more were arrested, and I still hear that sometimes,’ said a paper author. and public health researcher Jonathan Foulds of Penn State University.

‘But this study shows that many lighter smokers, even those who don’t smoke every day, can be addicted to cigarettes.’

He also suggests that we need to be more specific when asking about the frequency of cigarette smoking. ‘

When assessing people for nicotine addiction – or, tobacco use disorder, as it is formally known – doctors are entitled to the 11-part criteria outlined in the fifth edition of the Book- Diagnostic and Statistical Handheld, or DSM-5, for short-term use.

However, as Duke University paper author and behavioral scientist Jason Oliver explained, clinicians often use the question ‘How many cigarettes do you smoke each day? as a shortlist of judgments – but this can be misleading.

‘Lighter smoking is rightly considered more harmful than heavy smoking, but there are still significant health risks,’ said Dr Oliver.

‘Medical providers sometimes see lighter smokers as not being addictive and, therefore, not in need of treatment – but this study suggests that many of them may have a major problem. stop helpless. ‘

In their study, the researchers analyzed an existing dataset collected by the National Institutes of Health – which included information on more than 6,700 smokers assessed to total for nicotine supplementation against DSM-5 criteria.

They found that 85 percent of daily cigarette smokers smoked – whether moderate, moderate or severe.

Surprisingly, nearly two-thirds of those who smoked just one to four cigarettes a day were addicted – and about a quarter of those who smoked were less than a weekly addict, ‘he said. and Dr. Foulds.

‘Surprisingly, nearly two-thirds of those who smoked just one to four cigarettes a day were addicted – and about a quarter of those who smoked were less than a weekly addict,’ said paper author and public health researcher Jonathan Foulds of Penn State University

The researchers found, however, that cigarette smoking seems to be worse than smoking.

In fact, 35 percent of those who smoke between one and four cigarettes per day are more or less seized, compared to, and 74 percent of those who smoke more than 21 percent. cigarettes every day.

‘Previous research has found that non-daily smokers are more likely to attempt daily smoking,’ Oliver said.

‘Clinicians should inquire about all smoking behaviors, including non-daily smoking, as smokers may still need medication to successfully quit smoking.’

‘However, it is not clear to what extent conventional interventions are effective for light smokers. Ongoing efforts to identify the best ways to stop this population remain an important guide for future research. ‘

The full results of the study were published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.