Does Depressed Teens Smoke More?
Teenagers suffering from depression are much more likely to reach for a cigarette than contented teens, says a new study. “Teenagers with a depressive disorder had odds of nicotine dependence that were 4.6 times those of teenagers without depressive disorder,” say researchers from the Christchurch School of Medicine in Christchurch , New Zealand . The study found that co-factors such as family history of criminality or drug use (including cigarette smoking), association with delinquent peers, and feelings of low self-worth all contribute to increased rates of depression in teens. These increased rates of depression were mirrored in increased rates of smoking as well. A cigarette can give the illusion of a quick mental fix in times of stress. It reduces anxiety, it energizes, and it tends to elevate mood. One of the reasons smoking is so persistently prevalent in our culture is because it is a way that people can medicate themselves against stress, against low mood under stressful circu
