Children of Parents Who Smoke May Exhibit Symptoms Of Nicotine Dependence

Parents are urged to heed a new warning by researchers that those who smoke and expose their children to second-hand smoke may contribute to nicotine dependence in their non-smoking children. These findings could mean that young people who have never smoked may start smoking and become addicted to it.

Several Canadian institutions joined together to perform a study involving approximately 1,800 children between the ages of 10 and 12 from all socioeconomic levels. The participants completed questionnaires on their health, behaviors, symptoms of nicotine dependence and exposure to second-hand smoke. The results showed that 5 percent of children exposed to secondhand smoke at home or in cars exhibited symptoms of nicotine dependence including cravings, temptation to smoke when around others who smoke, and the experiencing of feeling addicted to nicotine. In addition, exposure to secondhand smoke among non-smokers can cause symptoms that reflect nicotine withdrawal such as depressed mood, trouble sleeping, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, trouble concentrating, and increased appetite.

The study participants were recruited from 29 Quebec schools as part of AdoQuest, a cohort investigation that measures tobacco use and other health-compromising behaviors. According to Mathieu Belanger, lead author of the study and new research director at the Centre de Formation Medicale du Nouveau-Brunswick of the Universite de Moncton and Universite de Sherbrooke said, “We expected to see something like zero percent, and so we were surprised to see as many as five percent.” She went on to explain, “There are two reasons why we feel that this is high. The first one is that kids are really, really young, 10 to 12 year olds, so we don't expect to see any symptoms of nicotine dependency in kids that young. The other thing is that those kids had never smoked before, not even one puff.”

The study was the first of its kind in examining signs of nicotine dependence in young people who have never smoked, although previous studies have the dangers of exposure to second-hand smoke, including an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Belanger commented, “Like many other studies before, this one is giving a sign to parents not to smoke around their children.” Recent statistics estimate that approximately 53,800 people die every year from exposure to second-hand smoke.

“These findings support the need for public health interventions that promote non-smoking in the presence of children, and uphold policies to restrict smoking in vehicles when children are present,” said Dr. Jennifer O'Loughlin, senior author of the study, a professor at the Université de Montréal's Department of Social and Preventive Medicine and a researcher at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal.

The governments of several Canadian Provinces have already banned or are considering banning smoking in cars when children are present due to the concerns over the impact of secondhand smoke on children.

Although more studies are necessary to confirm the connection between secondhand smoke and nicotine dependence, the researchers are analyzing data from a five-year follow up study to determine the likelihood of young people who exhibit signs of nicotine dependence to take up smoking.

Other researches in the collaboration include groups from the University of British Columbia, McGill University, Concordia University and the Institut national de sante publique de Quebec. The study findings can be found in the September edition of the journal Addictive Behaviors.