Initial Smoking Experiences and Current Smoking Behaviors and Perceptions among Current Smokers

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Hugh Klein, Kensington Research Institute; Claire Sterk, Emory University; Kirk Elifson, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2013
• Publisher: OMICS International
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 Hugh Klein et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/491797
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Addiction Research and Therapy
• ISSN: 2155-6105
• Volume: 2013
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 9
• Grant/Funding Information: This research was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Grant no. R01 DA015707, Principal Investigator: Claire Sterk).
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

Purpose. We examine early-onset cigarette smoking and how, if at all, it is related to subsequent smoking practices. Methods. From 2004 to 2007, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 485 adult cigarette smokers residing in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Data analysis involved a multivariate analysis to determine whether age of smoking onset was related to current smoking practices when the effects of gender, age, race, marital/relationship status, income, and educational attainment were taken into account. Results. The mean age for smoking onset was 14.8, and more than one-half of all smokers had their first cigarette between the ages of 12 and 16. Most people reported an interval of less than one month between their first and second time using tobacco. Earlier onset cigarette smoking was related to more cigarette use and worse tobacco-related health outcomes in adulthood. Conclusions. Early prevention and intervention are needed to avoid early-onset smoking behaviors. Intervening after initial experimentation but before patterned smoking practices are established will be challenging, as the interval between initial and subsequent use tends to be short.