MONTGOMERY – Yet another public health issue appears to be linked to youth cigarette smoking: an increased risk for developing anxiety disorders. The findings were the result of a comprehensive scientific study of approximately 700 adolescents and were published in the November 8, 2000, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Researchers claim youth cigarette smoking appears to increase the risk of certain anxiety disorders during late adolescence and early adulthood, specifically agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

"This study sheds some interesting light on the harmful effects of youth cigarette use," said Kent Hunt, Associate Commissioner for Substance Abuse Services at the state Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation (DMH/MR). "These and similar findings may help us show young people that the harmful effects of smoking are not limited to physical health problems."

Agoraphobia is clinically defined as a fear of situations or places in which escape might be difficult or help unavailable in the event of a panic attack. As the situational anxiety progresses untreated, the individual may begin to avoid situations that seem to result in anxiety. This is called avoidance and, in extreme cases, it can become very disruptive to work, health and social activities.

Constant, exaggerated worrisome thoughts and tension about everyday routine life events and activities characterize generalized anxiety disorder. Persons with this disorder almost always anticipate the worst even though there is little reason to expect it; accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea.

Panic Disorder is characterized by repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and without warning. Physical symptoms can include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal distress, and feelings of unreality.

"These types of mental disorders can be extremely debilitating, particularly for adolescents and young adults," Hunt said. "It makes our efforts to curb youth tobacco access and use all the more important." Alabama and other states are obligated to reduce youth access to tobacco under the Synar Amendment, federal legislation requiring states to monitor retailer compliance with state laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to youth.

Under the Synar Amendment, states are required to conduct random, unannounced inspections of a representative sample of tobacco vendors to monitor compliance with state tobacco access laws. States that fail to meet the goal of reducing violation rates to no more than 20 percent can lose a percentage of their federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funds. "Fortunately, Alabama vendors understand that tobacco sales to children are illegal and present a serious public health threat to our youth," Hunt said.

Information about treating anxiety disorders and contact information for your local mental health center is available by contacting the DMH/MR Bureau of Mental Illness Community Programs at (334) 242-3200.

Information about tobacco and other substance abuse is available from the DMH/MR Substance Abuse Services Division at (334) 242-3961.

The DMH/MR web site is http://www.mh.state.al.us

Access the abstract of the JAMA study at the journal’s web site:

http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v284n18/abs/joc01807.html

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Anxiety Disorder education web site http://www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/anxiety/index.htm

Information is also available by calling 1-88-88-ANXIETY.

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
11900 Parklawn Dr., Suite 100
Rockville, MD 20852-2624
(301) 231-9350
Internet: http://www.adaa.org/