First Puff Can Turn Kids Into Smokers: Study

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Another factor that appeared to somewhat up the risk for dependence was having seen an ad with Joe Camel -- the Camel cigarette brand's mascot between 1987 and 1997, the study found. Psychological factors -- such as being depressed and having a novelty-seeking personality -- also boosted the likelihood of addiction.

Post-inhale relaxation was the biggest risk factor for being unable to quit smoking, the researchers added. In fact, 91 percent of teens who claimed such feelings also said they were unable to kick the habit. Overall, almost 60 percent of the entire group of kids interviewed said they had lost their "autonomy," in terms of being able to stop smoking.

The findings suggest that the physiological addiction triggered by a first cigarette may be even more of a risk factor for smoking dependence than personality-driven factors, according to the researchers.

Based on the study results, DiFranza's team advocated an all-out ban on tobacco advertising to lower teens' likelihood of experimenting with cigarettes. More might also be done to educate young people of the dangers of that first cigarette, DiFranza added.

"You've never seen a commercial on TV warning that you can get hooked from the first cigarette," he noted. "And, to my knowledge, this has not yet been taught in classrooms. This is not a message that we've ever used in our public health programs. So, probably 99 percent of kids you asked probably think it's safe to try it once. What could be the problem with that? But there is a big risk to even trying it just once. And that should be the message that we give to our kids."

One expert said the study raises a few interesting questions.

"First, I wouldn't have expected that young people -- of all groups -- would experiment with cigarettes as a way to seek relaxation," said Joel Killen, a professor in the department of medicine with the Stanford Prevention Research Center at Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, Calif. "I would think that as a social group, kids would tend to look for the opposite -- for stimulation," he said.