Teen Smokers Reach Their Mid Twenties

Abstract

Purpose: Most outcome studies of adolescent smokers have focused on tobacco use in the short term. Few have reported on the health of adolescent smokers as they reach young adulthood. Methods: The design was a 10-year, eight-wave cohort study of a state-wide community sample of 1943 participants in Victoria, Australia. Participants were initially aged 14 to 15 years. Tobacco use was assessed with self-reported frequency of use and a seven-day retrospective diary. The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence was used to define nicotine dependence in young adulthood. A computerized interview assessment was used during the teens and in young adulthood. Results: Former daily smokers in adolescenc..