A new report finds that early nicotine exposure leads to an increased chance of addiction and disease and more difficulty in quitting. The report by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) concludes the earlier youth start using any product with nicotine, including e-cigarettes, the stronger their addiction will be and the harder it will be for them to quit. The AAP noted in a news release: “An estimated 4 percent of kids who try to quit nicotine will succeed, compared to 5 percent of adults who try to quit. Children and adolescents also make more attempts to quit before succeeding.” The AAP finds that even infrequent smoking increases the risk of addiction for youth, citing the results of one study in which monthly smoking for teens increased the likelihood of tobacco addiction by ten times. The report notes the use of e-cigarettes may encourage youth to use conventional cigarettes, and that there is great need for prevention efforts to stop youth from starting to use tobacco products.
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