Abstract B57: Association between secondhand smoke exposure and nicotine dependence

Introduction: Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is influenced by social class and immediate personal interactions; and it occurs in various social contexts, including the living space, workplace, institutions, and other physical environments. In addition, current smokers become exposed to SHS by opting to be in areas where smoking is permitted. We examined the association between exposure to SHS and nicotine dependence.

Methods: We conducted a face-to-face interview with a cross-sectional sample of 313 African-American current smokers (59% male and 41% female) age 40–86 from Baltimore City and the District of Columbia. Clinical nicotine dependence was assessed based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Text Revision (2000). Logistic regression was used to assess the association between SHS exposure setting and nicotine dependence, controlling for known confounders.

Results: In a preliminary analysis, exposure to SHS at home was associated with clinical nicotine dependence (P < .05). Exposure to SHS at work was associated with nicotine dependence in males (P < 0.05), but not in females. In multivariate analysis, those exposed to SHS in work environments were more likely to meet the criteria for nicotine dependence than those not exposed to SHS (OR = 5.3; 95% CI 1.7, 16.60).

Conclusion: These data highlight the importance of examining social contextual factors as determinants of nicotine dependence, and suggest that promotion of a smoke-free environment may reduce the prevalence of nicotine dependence among current smokers.