Relationship between early experiences with tobacco and early experiences with alcohol.
Initial sensitivity to substances may affect patterns of future use and dependence. Because smoking and alcohol use are strongly linked, because animal studies indicate cross-sensitivity, and because genetic determinants of nicotine and alcohol dependence overlap, we studied the relationships between retrospectively reported responses to both substances in current smokers (n = 111) and never-smokers (n = 86). Early smoking experiences were correlated with comparable responses to alcohol in smokers, and to a lesser extent, in never-smokers. Both pleasurable early experiences with nicotine and pleasurable experiences with alcohol predicted current alcohol intake; pleasurable early experiences with alcohol also predicted alcohol dependence. Neither pleasurable nor displeasurable experiences with either substance predicted current amount smoked or degree of nicotine dependence. These preliminary findings may have implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying the smoking-alcohol link.
Pomerleau
Cynthia S
CS
Department of Psychiatry, Nicotine Research Laboratory, Behavioral Medicine Program, University of Michigan, 475 Market Place, Suite L, Box 5, Ann Arbor 48108, USA. cspom@umich.edu
Marks
Judith L
JL
Pomerleau
Ovide F
OF
Snedecor
Sandy M
SM
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012677:Sensation; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology