Is There a Better Way to Assess Nicotine Dependency?

Nicotine dependence can be quickly assessed with just two questions. First is the number of cigarette smoke per day, and second is how long it is after you wake up in the morning that you have your first cigarette. The more addicted you are, more likely you are to need to reach for a cigarette first thing in the morning because you've gone into withdrawal overnight. People who smoke within 30 minutes of awakening are thought to be more addicted than those who don't smoke for 30 minutes. There are patients who will smoke at night when they wake up, because they are so addicted in the middle of the night, yeur ting.