Even very low levels of tobacco use can make a teenager permanently addicted
25 May 2020
Par: chef-projet@dnf.asso.fr
Dernière mise à jour: 25 May 2020
Temps de lecture: 3 minutes
An English study published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research[1] shows that 69% of people who tried smoking continued daily. An important issue when we know that experimentation mainly takes place during adolescence. The study also indicates that even two cigarettes a day can make a teenager permanently dependent.
There are records that France could do without, such as one of the highest rates of adolescent smokers in Europe. The question that arises for us is therefore: why do adolescents massively fall into smoking?
The reward circuit at the heart of addiction
The answer lies in the heart of our brains. In fact, the reward circuit is activated when something pleases us: a sweet or a purchase. When activated, this circuit releases substances that induce this feeling of pleasure. Most of the time, these substances are destroyed quickly. On the other hand, nicotine and other substances in tobacco maintain the secretion of substances that induce satisfaction. Consequently, a smoker is unconsciously led to constantly seek this state of pleasure. Even if many criticize it, this partly explains the failures of nicotine substitutes which, on their own, are often not enough to help people quit.
Teenagers even more susceptible to addiction
In young people aged 15 to 25, this reward circuit is even more active and therefore more vulnerable to addictions. These satisfaction mechanisms are more powerful because they correspond to the first pleasant experiences. Unsurprisingly, the study returns to the stronger dependence according to the age of onset of smoking. The researchers estimate that 2 cigarettes per day at 15 years old are enough to tip over into lasting dependence. In addition, the researchers go further by looking at flavoring agents such as sugars, liquorice, ammonia which would promote the installation and maintenance of dependence. These fumes, considered pleasant for the brain, would increase nicotine dependence tenfold.
Today's adolescent experimenters will therefore be tomorrow's daily smokers, who will suffer the day after tomorrow all the problems that smoking causes. Knowing that smoking cessation is more difficult when smoking starts early, the results of this study attempt to revisit this oft-debated issue. It is observed that 80% of relapses of quitting occur after one year, despite nicotine substitutes.
Prevention must be emphasized on this particular target
Efforts to denormalize tobacco must focus on priority audiences such as adolescents, who are sensitive to the tobacco industry's arguments and yet less prepared for addictions. Prevention campaigns must therefore be massive, keeping in mind that this population is very specific. Highly solicited by thousands of messages per day, adolescents now remain very focused on social networks, which sometimes complicates prevention. Calling on influencers is now essential.
