EARLY EXPERIENCES WITH TOBACCO AMONG WOMEN SMOKERS, EX-SMOKERS, AND NEVER-SMOKERS

Aims. Recent research suggests that people who become smokers may be m ore sensitive to the positive effects of nicotine than those who do no t take zip smoking. Design and setting. The present study was designed to investigate this hypothesis by querying initial experiences with c igarette smoking in smokers, ex-smokers and never-smokers recruited fr om the local community. Participants. Subjects were 80 women (23 highl y-dependent smokers (Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire score greater than or equal to 7), 30 less-dependent smokers (FTQ less than or equal to 6), 12 ex-smokers and 15 never-smokers), Measurements. Subjects we re asked to rate pleasurable sensations and displeasurable sensations on a scale of 1 = none to 4 = intense, and to indicate the presence or absence of pleasurable rush or buzz, relaxation, dizziness, nausea an d cough; social context was also queried. Pleasurable rush or buzz, re laxation, dizziness, nausea and cough were related to ratings of pleas urable and unpleasant sensations to establish their affective valence. Findings. Pleasurable sensations, pleasurable rush or buzz and relaxa tion (pleasant effects) were significantly more likely to occur in the smoker categories than in never-smokers. The ratio of pleasurable to unpleasant sensations, computed as an index of overall hedonic impact of initial exposure, also significantly favored the smoker categories. By contrast, unpleasant sensations, nausea and cough (unpleasant effe cts) did not differ significantly among groups. Dizziness, which did n ot definitely emerge as either pleasurable or unpleasant, was signific antly more likely to be reported among the smoker groups than among ne ver-smokers. Conclusions. People who become highly dependent cigarette smokers appear to have move pleasurable sensations at their initial e xposure to tobacco; unpleasant reactions to the first cigarette do not seem to protect against subsequent smoking.