Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Test

The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence is a test used to determine the degree of nicotine dependence. It can be used to develop a strategy for quitting smoking. The test consists of several simple questions and is based on the premise that individuals with high nicotine dependence often need to light a cigarette shortly after waking up, are reluctant to give up their morning cigarettes, smoke a large number of cigarettes per day, have difficulty refraining from smoking in places where smoking is prohibited, or smoke even when ill and confined to bed. The level of dependence is determined by the final score—low (score 0–3), moderate (score 4–6), and high (score 7–10). A simpler version of the test is the Smoking Severity Index, which uses only two questions from the Fagerström Test: the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the time until the first morning cigarette.