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Nicotine withdrawal and accident rates

Nature volume 394, page 137 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

It is well known that when regular smokers quit smoking, their mood and cognitive performance typically deteriorate within a few hours of abstaining1,2. But do these psychological deficits, readily measured in the laboratory, cause major disruption in everyday activities, such as performance at work? Here we use a new method to address this question; our data suggest that the effects of nicotine withdrawal can indeed be detected in daily activities.

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References

  1. Snyder, F. R., Davis, F. & Henningfield, J. E. Drug Alcohol Dep. 23, 259–266 (1989).

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  2. West, R. J., Jarvis, M. J., Russell, M. A. H., Carruthers, M. E. & Feyerabend, C. Br. J. Addict. 79, 215–219 (1984).

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  3. McGuire, C. Pausing for Breath: A Review of No Smoking Day Research 1984 to 1991 (Health Education Authority, London, 1992).

  4. West, R. J. Getting Serious about Stopping Smoking: A Review of Products, Services, and Techniques. A Report for No Smoking Day (Health Education Authority, London, 1997).

  5. A Guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (Health and Safety Executive, HMSO, London, 1986).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tobacco Research Section, National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, SE5 8AF, London, UK

    Andrew J. Waters

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, ICRF Health Behaviour Unit, University College London, WC1E 6BT, London, UK

    Martin J. Jarvis & Stephen R. Sutton

Authors
  1. Andrew J. Waters
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  2. Martin J. Jarvis
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  3. Stephen R. Sutton
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Waters, A., Jarvis, M. & Sutton, S. Nicotine withdrawal and accident rates. Nature 394, 137 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/28076

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