The Fagerström Test for
Nicotine dependence
Nicotine dependence is a state of substance dependence on nicotine. It is a Chronic condition, chronic, relapsing disease characterized by a Compulsive behavior, compulsive craving to use the drug despite social consequences, loss of control over ...
is a standard instrument for assessing the intensity of addiction to nicotine. It evaluates the quantity of
cigarette
A cigarette is a narrow cylinder containing a combustible material, typically tobacco, that is rolled into Rolling paper, thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end, causing it to smolder; the resulting smoke is orally inhale ...
consumption, the compulsion to use, and
dependence. In addition to this, the DSM-5 for tobacco use disorder can be used by physicians and nurse practitioners to make a
diagnosis
Diagnosis (: diagnoses) is the identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon. Diagnosis is used in a lot of different academic discipline, disciplines, with variations in the use of logic, analytics, and experience, to determine " ...
.
Evaluation
Two of the questions are rated between zero to three including: How soon after you wake up do you smoke your first cigarette? and How many cigarettes per day do you smoke? The rest of the questions are answered "yes" or "no".
The higher the total Fagerström score, the more intense is the patient's physical dependence to nicotine. In many countries nurses and pharmacists can use Fagerström to assess nicotine use and may initiate
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a medically approved way to treat people with tobacco use disorder by taking nicotine through means other than tobacco. It is used to help with quitting smoking or stopping chewing tobacco. It increases th ...
.
See also
*
Nicotine nasal spray
References
{{Include-NIH, url=https://cde.drugabuse.gov/instrument/d7c0b0f5-b865-e4de-e040-bb89ad43202b, title=Instrument: Fagerstrom Test For Nicotine Dependence (FTND)
Smoking cessation
Cigarettes