Friday, December 01, 2006

Nicotine: One puff may be enough

MONTREAL - Sometimes all it takes is one lousy puff, warns a Montreal researcher after mapping the pattern of tobacco addiction in youth.

Certain novice smokers are far more susceptible to nicotine addiction and a life-long smoking habit than previously believed, said McGill University epidemiologist Jennifer O'Loughlin.

Her novel study charted key points of nicotine dependence from the first puff to full-blown addiction.

``With nicotine there's the mistaken belief that you need long-term exposure. The reality is that after one exposure you have some kind of impact. And in those (who are) predisposed, it could be quite powerful,'' said O'Loughlin, whose study was published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Source.

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