The Short Nicotine Dependence Index: A Simple and Versatile Self-Report Measure of Nicotine Dependence for General Populations

The Short Nicotine Dependence Index offers an efficient and practical alternative to traditional dependence measures that rely on cigarette consumption. Its brevity and strong correlation with biochemical markers make it well-suited for use in large-scale surveys and clinical settings. By focusing on observed behavior (time to first cigarette) and self-reported difficulty abstaining, it remains relevant as smoking and nicotine use patterns shift. In addition, because it does not use reported cigarettes smoked per day, it may be useful for assessing dependence on other nicotine products (eg, e-cigarettes). Further research is needed to evaluate its validity among users of other nicotine products.