Smoking and attention deficit disorder

{{#badges: Tobaccowiki}} Smoking and attention deficit disorder

In this confidential research document, Philip Morris scientists hypothesize that adult smokers are hykerkinetic children who have grown up, and who are now self-medicating with cigarettes. The writer draws a parallel between Ritalin and nicotine, saying

"...the stimulant characteristics of nicotine enabled [smokers] to control some of their behavior problems just as Ritalin does for today's children."

The report also says that smokers are more impulsive and have more accidents than nonsmokers.

To test the hypothesis about whether adult smokers are hyperactives who are self-medicating with nicotine, the PM scientists sought ways to monitor children for a number of years to see if there was a preponderance of smokers among adults who, as children, were diagnosed as being hyperactive. It appears that having to gain parental consent for such a study might have been a roadblock:

"Although school system records would seem best suited for such research...restrictions on access to records,...[and] on the use of children in research without the informed consent of their parents will keep us out of the school systems until the rules are rewritten..."

Title SMOKER PSYCHOLOGY BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT
Per. Author William L. Dunn, Jr., Carolyn J. Levy, Frank J. Ryan
Date 19770613/Y
Type REPORT, SCIENTIFIC
Bates 2048370187/0190
URL: http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/uqx96e00

Related documents

Positive Aspects of Smoking] (R.J. Reynolds, 1994)

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