According to recent research published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, "Nicotine dependence (ND) is a pervasive public health concern and a leading cause of preventable mortality. Stressful life events (SLEs), which severely disrupt the lives of individuals experiencing such events, have been posited as correlates of persisting ND."

"While both ND and SLEs have been studied extensively in relation to other variables, there are few instances in which they have been investigated in concert. In this study, we use data on 18,013 smokers from the 2001-2002 data set of the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC, N = 43,093) to examine whether experiencing a SLE in the past 12 months was associated with meeting criteria for ND in the same past 12 months. Logistic regression analyses were conducted while accounting for a variety of covariates. A majority of the SLEs were associated with past 12 month ND, even after controlling for poverty, psychiatric and substance use disorders, and a prior history of ND (odds-ratios 1.35-2.20). The rates of past 12 month ND were considerably greater in those experiencing more than one SLE. While these data do not allow us to make causal interpretations, our results suggest an association between SLE and ND," wrote E. Balk and colleagues, Washington University, Medical Department (see also Drug and Alcohol Abuse).

The researchers concluded: "Potentially, individuals experiencing SLEs may find it difficult to quit smoking; alternatively, directly or via correlated risks (e.g., living in a high risk neighborhood), smoking may increase the likelihood of exposure to SLEs."

Balk and colleagues published their study in American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (The Association Between DSM-IV Nicotine Dependence and Stressful Life Events in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 2009;35(2):85-90).

For additional information, contact A. Agrawal, Washington University, School Medical, Dept. of Psychiatry, 660 S Euclid, CB 8134, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

The publisher's contact information for the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse is: Taylor & Francis Inc., 325 Chestnut St., Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA.