Smoking is nor good for smoker neither the people around him. Various studies have proved adverse effects of second-hand smoking on health of people who don’t smoke. The recent research has added one more adverse effect to the long list of harms due to exposure to second-hand smoke. In the recent research, researchers found that smoking by parents can trigger nicotine dependence symptoms in kids. It is believed that people who don’t smoke cannot experience nicotine dependence. 

Researchers analyzed the data collected from1800 children from 29 Quebec schools, aged 10 to 12 years. These children were taken from different socioeconomic levels. The study subjects were asked to fill questionnaires related to health, behaviors and exposure to smoke. 

Analysis of data showed that nearly 5 percent of the 1,488 children who had never smoked but were exposed to second-hand smoke showed symptoms of nicotine addiction. 

Mathieu Bélanger, the study’s lead author said: “Our study found that 5 percent of children who had never smoked a cigarette, but who were exposed to secondhand smoke in cars or their homes, reported symptoms of nicotine dependence.” 

Bélanger added the exposure to second-hand smoke among non-smokers may cause symptoms that seem to reflect several nicotine withdrawal symptoms: depressed mood, trouble sleeping, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, trouble concentrating and decreased appetite.

Researchers concluded that these findings support the need for public health interventions that promote non-smoking in the presence of children, and uphold policies to restrict smoking in vehicles when children are present.