What is the evidence for hardening in the cigarette smoking population? Trends in nicotine dependence in the U.S., 2002-2012.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is unclear whether declines in cigarette smoking in the U.S. have resulted in a hardened population of "hardcore" smokers. We studied changes in nicotine dependence severity from 2002 to 2012, using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Methods

We used generalized non-linear factor analysis to examine whether individual Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS) items functioned differently over time, and whether average NDSS scores changed in a sample of 130,637 current smokers. We also examined trends for individual NDSS sub-scales and whether trends were moderated by tobacco consumption and socio-demographic factors.

Results

Consumption levels and dependence severity both declined over the study period. This decline was driven by priori

SUBMITTER: Smith PH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4158455 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature