Sensations from initial exposure to nicotine predicting adolescent smoking in China: A potential measure of vulnerability to nicotine

Sensations derived from initial exposure to nicotine are a potential indicator of an individual's vulnerability to nicotine. This study assessed whether sensations experienced during the first lifetime exposure to nicotine could predict current and established cigarette smoking. Data from 210 respondents who reported having ever tried cigarette smoking in Wuhan, China, were obtained for this study from 610 students in 10th grade at two schools. Subjects were participants in a multipurpose pilot survey for an adolescent smoking prevention trial. The survey was administered in a classroom setting using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. Sensations reported were cigarette smell (59.2%), coughing (54.1%), dizziness (52.1%), nausea (42.5%), relaxation (19.1%), and pleasurable buzz/rush (9.0%). After controlling for confounders, multiple logistic regression analyses identified three sensations significantly associated with smoking: (a) Cigarette smell (OR for days smoked in the past 30 days = 2.93, p <.05, OR for number of cigarettes smoked per day = 2.69, p <.05, and OR for 100-cigarette smoking = 5.40, p <.01), (b) pleasurable buzz/rush (OR for 100-cigarefte smoking = 11.09, p <.05), and (c) relaxation (OR for past 30-day smoking measures ranged from 3.69 to 4.48, p <.01, and OR for 100-cigarette smoking = 4.12, p <.05). A dose-response relationship was observed between the sensations and cigarette smoking. Self-reported sensations from initial exposure to nicotine may be a useful indicator of an individual's vulnerability to nicotine. This information can be used for adolescent smoking prevention and cessation interventions.