Smoking during adolescence has been indentified as a risk factor for the development of nicotine dependence in adulthood. Approximately three quarters of adult tobacco users report that their first tobacco use occurred between the ages of 11 and 17 years. Now it is apparent that smoking is rising dramatically among adolescents. It has been accompanied by a decrease in the age of beginning of smoking, as well as a drop in adolescent perception of related health risks. The earlier one starts to smoke, the greather the probability of developing dependence, and the more severe tobacco-related health consequences can be predicted. Tobacco use is among the most serious of all paediatric health problems. The paper reviews the most important empirical literature on factors influencing smoking progression, adolescent nicotine dependence and its assessment, and the effects of early smoking episodes on later tobacco use. An ethical problems and some potential methods for future research are presented.

        Key words: stages of smoking, initial episodes, dependence, children, adolescents