Developmental concepts of nicotine addiction
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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Spectral Confocal Imaging of Fluorescently tagged Nicotinic Receptors in Knock-in Mice with Chronic Nicotine Administration
Published on: February 10, 2012
Kris Lishner Miller1, Merry Armstrong
1Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing, Spokane, WA 99224, USA. lishner@wsu.edu
Abstract:
Piagetian interviewing techniques were used to explore concepts of nicotine addiction among 96 children and adolescents aged between 5 and 17 years. Verbal probes elicited each subject's most sophisticated level of reasoning about smoking and addiction. Responses were scored using the six developmentally ordered categories of the Developmental Conceptions of Addiction scoring system. Data indicate progression in conceptual reasoning about addiction consistent with Piagetian stages of cognitive development and physical causality. Age was associated with but not predictive of Developmental Conceptions of Addiction scores. Findings provide information that may be useful in designing more effective smoking prevention and cessation interventions.
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