Use of high-nicotine/tar-yield (full-flavor) cigarettes and risk for nicotine dependence in nationally representative samples of US smokers

Abstract

Introduction: The present study examines whether use of machine-estimated high-nicotine/taryield (full-flavor) cigarettes predicts greater risk of nicotine dependence after controlling for the influence of potential confounding factors in US nationally representative samples. Methods: Data were obtained from multiple years of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Nicotine dependence was measured by (1) the Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale and (2) latency to first cigarette after waking. Associations between use of high-nicotine/tar-yield cigarettes and risk for nicotine dependence were examined using multiple logistic regression. Results: The odds of nicotine dependence were reliably greater among users of high-compared to lower-nicotine/tar-yield cigarettes even after adjusting for sociodemographic and other smoking characteristics (Ps