Early Cigarette Smoking and Drug Use: Some Comments, Data and Thoughts

Abstract

This paper considers some recently reported cigarette smoking and drug-use data which indicate teenage smokers have a greater probability of using or becoming involved with illicit drugs than non-smoking peers. It is suggested that the epidemiological concept of high risk groups be applied to relationship between the use of socially approved substances like tobacco by young people and subsequent drug experiences because it acknowledges the empirical covariance between these events but does not have as strong causal implications as a “stepping stone” notion. By this, it is implied that a person who begins smoking, for example, at age 10 when his reference group will begin at age 15, may be more likely to become involved with substance abuse. Further suggested the decision to use drugs is an individual one which appears to be influenced by a multiplicity of factors as availability, personal needs, values, peer influences, personality characteristics and previous behavioral tendencies.