[From tobacco use to other drugs use: does the early use of tobacco increase the probability of use of other drugs].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the likelihood of substance abuse predicted by age of first exposure to tobacco.


METHODS
Data from the 1998 National Household Survey on Addictions in urban areas were analyzed.


RESULTS
The age period of greater likelihood of drug experimentation is between 15 and 19 years; only 5.6% of drug users and 13% of alcohol beverage drinkers reported having experimented with drugs before trying tobacco. The probability of heavy drinking and dependence was higher at early ages of first exposure to tobacco and decreased with increasing age. Experimentation with drugs, continued use, and multiple drug use, are more frequent among smokers who started before 15 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Early tobacco use increases the likelihood of substance abuse.
Medina-Mora
Ma Elena
ME
Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría doctor Ramón de la Fuente, México, D.F., México. medinam@imp.edu.mx
Peña-Corona
Marco Polo
MP
Cravioto
Patricia
P
Villatoro
Jorge
J
Kuri
Pablo
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*
Del tabaco al uso de otras drogas: el uso temprano de tabaco aumenta la probabilidad de usar otras drogas?