Year: 2008
Type: dissertation
Abstract: In the Netherlands, 27% of the population is currently smoking. Nicotine is \namong the most addictive substances of abuse. Thirty-two percent of the people \nwho tried smoking develop nicotine dependence within ten year. This percentage \nis higher for nicotine than for other substances of abuse (e.g., 23 for heroin: \nAnthony, et al. 1994). Eighty percent of the smokers intend to quit smoking in the \nfuture while only 25% actually attempt to quit every year. Most of these quit \nattempts fail as 88-95% of the quitters smoke again in the year following the quit \nattempt (International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project 2011). Although \nsmoking rates are decreasing since 1970, the decline in smoking rates is less \ndistinct in populations with a lower social economic status. Youngsters with lower \neducational levels start smoking more often and it could be that those with lower \nsocial economic status have more difficulties giving up smoking. Nicotine \ndependence is currently included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of \nMental Disorders fourth edition (DSM-IV-TR) as a ‘substance use disorder’. \nExamples of diagnostic criteria are tolerance, withdrawal, smoking more than \none intended, and the continuation of smoking despite knowledge of adverse \nconsequences. Although nicotine dependence is included in the DSM-IV, nicotine \ndependence is rarely diagnosed. In addition, many smokers do not meet the \ndiagnostic criteria, although they do experience problems giving up smoking \n(Schmitz, et al. 2003) and have increased risks for serious health problems. All \nthese characteristics of smoking imply that smoking is a serious and chronic \ncondition that occurs in a substantial part of the population.
Author: Maartje Luijten
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G8315312887
OpenAlex ID: W1720494910