A Study on the Prevalence and Correlates of Nicotine Dependence among Adolescents of Burdwan Town, West Bengal

Context: Tobacco will cause one billion deaths in the 21st century. The use of tobacco causes dependence both psychological and physical. Aims: To find out the level of nicotine dependence and it correlates among adolescents. Settings and Design: A community-based, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in the Burdwan town, West Bengal, among 1354 adolescent tobacco users. Materials and Methods: Data were collected by direct interview using a pretested, predesigned, semistructured schedule containing the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) questionnaire. Statistical Analysis: Pearson's Chi-square test, Student's unpaired t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, and multivariable linear regression were used. All the statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 19.0. Results: The mean FTND score was significantly higher among adolescents aged >15 years, males, Hindu, tobacco users from joint family, who belonged to lower socioeconomic status, who started using tobacco at the age of 10–12 years, using tobacco for ≥5 years, who were not married, were illiterate, working, and not aware of the injurious effect of tobacco to health. Conclusions: A suitable individualized approach should be used for those who want to quit tobacco depending on their FTND score.