SMOKING AND NICOTINE DEPENDENCE - RESULTS FROM A SAMPLE OF 14 TO 24-YEAR-OLDS IN GERMANY

This paper describes the distribution of dependence criteria and diagn oses in a sample of 14- to 24-year-olds from Munich, Germany (n = 3,02 1; 71% response rate), evaluates differences between nondependent and dependent smokers and examines associations of smoking with other subs tances, affective and anxiety disorders, Assessment was made using the M-CIDI. The lifetime prevalence of DSM-IV nicotine dependence in the total sample is 19%, rising to 52% among regular smokers, No gender di fferences were seen in the progression from regular smoking to nicotin e dependence, although men were more likely than women to initiate reg ular use. Analysis of daily cigarette use identified a significant dos e-response relationship with the number of endorsed DSM-IV dependence criteria with unsuccessful cut-backs being the most prevalent criterio n, As compared to nondependent smokers, dependent smokers were more li kely to associate negative health effects with smoking and to have a d esire to change and attempt a change in their pattern of use. Regular use of nicotine was found to be significantly associated with other su bstance and nonsubstance disorders, although dependent regular use was more strongly associated with these disorders than nondependent regul ar use. These results indicate that daily smoking is a behavior which is resistant to change despite an expressed desire and repeated cut-ba ck attempts, Although initiation of regular smoking among nonsmokers d oes not occur frequently after the early twenties, the risk for depend ent smoking among regular users persists into adulthood and is associa ted with a range of mental disorders.