Does Smoking Lead to Depression?
People begin to smoke for many reasons, including peer pressure, the pleasurable feeling brought on by nicotine and even just the desire to try out something new. And despite all the warnings it is estimated that 4000 teens light up a cigarette every day for the first time.
Along with all the health problems associated with smoking there is yet another problem - DEPRESSION. Originally it was thought that depression, especially in teens brought out the need to smoke.
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According to the National Center on addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), led by former U.S. Health, Education and Welfare commissioner Joseph A. Califano Jr. twice as many teen smokers as non smokers will suffer symptoms of depression.
In October 2007, a report released by CASA known as “Tobacco: The Smoking Gun” indicated that research has shown that teens who smoke are more likely to suffer depression as well as addictions to alcohol and drugs.
The report found that symptoms of depression and hopelessness were found to be twice as high in teens 12 to 17, that smoked for a year as compared to non smokers.
“These findings sound an alarm for parents, teachers, pediatricians and others responsible for children’s health that smoking by teens may well signal the fire of alcohol and other drug abuse and mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders,” said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., chairman and president of CASA and speaking on behalf of The Citizens’ Commission as its chairman. “We have known for a long time that smoking causes deadly and crippling cancers and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Now we see the devastating effects that nicotine can have on the developing brains of our children and teens.”
The report was done to show parents and teachers that smoking could lead to alcohol and drug abuse as well as mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.
And just last week additional research by the University Of Navarra in collaboration with the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston concluded that smokers have a 41% higher risk of suffering depression than non smokers.
This time the study was based on research done over the course of 6 years on 8,556 university graduates students with an average age of 42. Scientists of the University of Navarra, claimed to have found a direct relationship between tobacco use and depression.
This report also states that smoking is directly tied to depression only here the report links smoking to:
“genetic and/or environmental disposition, which will increase the probability that the tobacco habit is retained and that the user will suffer depression as an independent issue.”
Both reports directly link smoking and depression. The major difference being the first report from CASA states that teens who smoke seriously compromise their brains which leads to mental illnesses and addictions, the second report stated that although smoking was a strong indicator of developing depression it was more due to genetic factors.
The one thing that both reports did entirely agree on is that although smoking was a strong indicator of developing depression much more research was needed.
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May 3rd, 2008 at 11:42 am
Smoking in teens IMO, firstly is a protest of adult independance. “You can’t smoke unless you are an adult”. Secondly it is a cool look factor, in oposition to the “Man”. Thirdly a social factor “Do you have a light?” or ” do you have a cigarette?” with a smoking click forming. Addiction (to nicotine) is just a secondary factor that keeps smoking going.
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Thats a good point Mark! That’s exactly what the report put out by CASA last year said. Teens smoke to be cool and then become addicted. The problem being is that they don’t only become addicted to smoking. There is a strong chance that they can become addicted to alcohol and drugs as well. Thanks for the comment.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Smoking is a legal killer. Any one stupid enough to smoke might as well get it over and done with and put a gun to their own heads. The trouble is those who allow it are the trigger.
Quit smoking
May 7th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Very well said Tonie, thanks for the comment.
May 13th, 2008 at 4:00 am
[…] leads to problems at home and at school. It has been estimated that up to 8 percent of the teen population is affected by depression. Depression is a very serious problem and the options with young […]