[From tobacco use to other drugs use: does the early use of tobacco increase the probability of use of other drugs]. / Del tabaco al uso de otras drogas: el uso temprano de tabaco aumenta la probabilidad de usar otras drogas?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the likelihood of substance abuse predicted by age of first exposure to tobacco. MATERIAL AND 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.

Del tabaco al uso de otras drogas: ¿el uso temprano de tabaco aumenta la probabilidad de usar otras drogas? / x

Objetivo. Analizar la probabilidad de abuso de sustancias en relación con la edad de inicio del consumo de tabaco. Material y métodos. Los datos provienen de la Encuesta Nacional de Adicciones (1998) realizada en población urbana. Resultados. La edad de mayor riesgo para experimentar con sustancias es entre los 15 y los 19 años. Solamente en 5.6 por ciento de los usuarios de drogas y 13 por ciento de los que han consumido alcohol, el uso del tabaco no ocurrió primero. La probabilidad de beber en forma consuetudinaria y de presentar dependencia es mayor cuando la edad de inicio es temprana y disminuye en la medida en que se retrasa la edad de inicio. La experimentación con drogas, el continuar usándolas y el poliuso son más frecuentes entre quienes se iniciaron antes de los 15 años. Conclusiones. El inicio temprano en el consumo de tabaco incrementa la probabilidad de uso y abuso de sustancias.

Objective. To assess the likelihood of substance abuse predicted by age of first exposure to tobacco. Material and 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 percent of drug users and 13 percent 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.