Evaluating nicotine dependence levels in e-cigarette users
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.905Keywords:
E-cigarette, Nicotine dependence, Tobacco cigarette smoking, Smoking cessation.Abstract
Despite the fact that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are rapidly growing in popularity and use worldwide, there is scarce scientific data on abuse liability among e-cigarette users, and about whether e-cigarette use is related to nicotine dependence or not. The aim of this study is to explore nicotine dependence levels in a sample of experienced e-cigarette users (n= 39) and to compare them with current tobacco cigarette smokers (n=42). We conducted several face-to-face interviews in order to assess sociodemographic and dependence related characteristics in both e-cigarette users and in smokers. Adapted versions of both the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) and the nicotine dependence syndrome scale (NDSS) were used to analyze nicotine dependence in each of the groups. Biochemical markers of carbon monoxide and urinary cotinine analysis were also collected. Results showed that e-cigarette users scored lower than cigarette smokers in both FTND and all NDSS subscales. Our findings extend previous research on e-cigarette use and nicotine addiction and suggest that e-cigarette users are less dependent on nicotine than current tobacco cigarette smokers. Further prospective studies are needed to better ascertain their addictiveness potential, comparing those smokers who switched to e-cigarettes from smoking cigarettes, and those who had never been tobacco cigarette smokers.References
Cobb, C. O., Hendricks, P. S. y Eissenberg, T. (2015). Electronic cigarettes and nicotine dependence: evolving products, evolving problems. BMC Medicine, 13, 119. doi:10.1186/s12916-015-0355-y.
Foulds, J., Veldheer, S., Yingst, J., Hrabovsky, S., Wilson, S. J., Nichols, T. T. y Eissenberg, T. (2015). Development of a questionnaire for assessing dependence on electronic cigarettes among a large sample of ex-smoking E-cigarette users. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17(2), 186-192. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntu204.
Harrell, P. T., Simmons, V. N., Correa, J. B., Padhya, T. A. y Brandon, T. H. (2014). Electronic nicotine delivery systems (“e-cigarettes”): review of safety and smoking cessation efficacy. Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, 151(3), 381-393. doi:10.1177/0194599814536847.
Heatherton, T. F., Kozlowski, L. T., Frecker, R. C. y Fagerstrom, K. O. (1991). The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence: a revision of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire. British Journal of Addictions, 86, 1119-1127.
Marsot, A. y Simon, N. (2015). Nicotine and Cotinine Levels with Electronic Cigarette: A Review. International Journal of Toxicology. doi:10.1177/1091581815618935.
Martínez-Sánchez, J. M., Ballbè, M., Fu, M., Martín-Sánchez, J. C., Saltó, E., Gottlieb, M.,… Fernández, E. (2014). Electronic cigarette use among adult population: a cross-sectional study in Barcelona, Spain (2013–2014). BMJ Open, , 4, e005894. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005894.
McMillen, R. C., Gottlieb, M. A., Shaefer, R. M., Winickoff, J. P., y Klein, J. D. (2015). Trends in Electronic Cigarette Use Among U.S. Adults: Use is Increasing in Both Smokers and Nonsmokers. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17, 1195-1202. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntu213.
Organización Mundial de la Salud. (2014). WHO report on the electronic nicotine delivery systems, 2014: Conference of the parties to the WHO framework convention on tobacco control. Retrieved at http://apps.who.int/gb/fctc/PDF/cop6/FCTC COP6 10- en.pdf, July 8, 2016.
Shiffman, S., Waters, A. y Hickcox, M. (2004). The nicotine dependence syndrome scale: a multidimensional measure of nicotine dependence. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 6, 327-348. doi:10.1080/1462220042000202481.
Yu, V., Rahimy, M., Korrapati, A., Xuan, Y., Zou, A. E., Krishnan, A. R.,… Ongkeko, W. M. (2016). Electronic cigarettes induce DNA strand breaks and cell death independently of nicotine in cell lines. Oral Oncology, 52, 58-65. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2015.10.018.
