Opportunities to initiate smoking and to smoke regularly are important steps in the development of nicotine dependence and are necessary for the expression of genetic vulnerability. Level of parent monitoring of children’s whereabouts and activities may significantly impact smoking opportunities and thereby influence risk of nicotine dependence. Indeed, higher parent monitoring is associated with reduced risk of smoking during adolescence (24–26), and appears to have continuing effects up to young adulthood (27). The least monitored children may be more easily exposed to environments where cigarettes are readily available and to peers who smoke cigarettes. This environmental exposure to cigarettes and to opportunities to smoke may not only increase the risk for smoking initiation, but also increase the risk for becoming dependent on nicotine for individuals with or without genetic susceptibility for nicotine dependence.
