Nicotine Dependence Quiz: How Addicted Are You?

This short test estimates how dependent you are on nicotine using six everyday dimensions. It is a self-check, not a clinical diagnosis, and it helps you pick the right level of support before you quit.

The six dimensions we ask about

Rather than copying a commercial scale verbatim, the test asks six practical questions: how soon after waking you smoke, how many per day, whether you find the first cigarette hardest to give up, whether you smoke more in the morning, whether you smoke when ill in bed, and whether you smoke to control negative moods. These mirror the factors researchers use to gauge dependence without prescribing a licensed instrument.

How to read your score

Add your responses and compare to three bands. A low score suggests nicotine plays a smaller role and a straightforward quit may work. A moderate score means structured support, such as nicotine replacement, will likely help. A high score indicates strong dependence where combining aids and a clear plan matters most. The original Fagerström work, still referenced in dependence research, established that sooner-morning smoking and higher daily counts are the strongest dependence signals PubMed.

What your level means

Smokefree.gov advises tailoring your quit approach to your level of preparation and dependence, because a one-size plan fits no one well Smokefree.gov. A higher score is not a verdict on willpower; it is a cue to lean on more support. Use the result to decide whether to start aids before your quit date and to tell your supporters how much backup you need.

A note on honesty

Answer the six questions as you actually behave, not as you wish to. The test only helps if it is true, and a higher score simply means you should bring more support, not that you lack willpower. Smokefree.gov reminds smokers that preparation matched to real dependence is what improves outcomes Smokefree.gov. An honest score is the start of a plan that fits you.

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