NICOTINE DEPENDANCE IN LIGHT OF STRESS: UNSEEN ENEMY IS ALWAYS THE MOST FEARSOME!

Abstract

Context: The estimated number of tobacco users both smoked and smokeless forms is escalating at alarming rates in South-east Asian countries especially India. Likewise neuro-psychiatric disorder is an unheralded public health crisis worldwide. Perceived stress may be regarded as fearsome unseen enemy executing backstage role in tobacco addiction. Aims: To assess the nicotine dependence and stress in tobacco chewers. Further to investigate correlation between stress and nicotine dependence among patients visiting in dental school in India. Methods and Material: This prospective, cross sectional study was based on self administered questionnaires. The study population included 35 patients with tobacco chewing habit. Perceived stress was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence- Smokeless Tobacco (FTND-ST) was used to measure nicotine dependence. Further correlation between perceived stress and nicotine dependence was analysed. Results: The data so obtained was tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis using the statistical package of social sciences 25.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago IL). Chi-square test was applied and binary logistic regression model was calculated using all socio demographic variables. In the present study, the subjects with moderate stress had a positive association with nicotine dependency Conclusions: This study illustrate that perceived stress is associated with nicotine dependence. Chewing has been found to act as a stress reliever as well as being associated with uncontrollable social and economic stressors disproportionately affecting all.