Smoking cigarettes may not be the smartest life choice, and a new study suggests intelligence could factor into the decision. A research team led by Mark Weiser and colleagues from Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer found young men who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day or more had IQ scores 7.5 points lower than non-smokers.The researchers looked at 20,211 18-year-old men recruited into the Israeli military. Twenty-eight percent of the study’s participants smoked at least one cigarette a day, around 3 percent were ex-smokers and 68 percent had never smoked.The smokers had significantly lower IQ scores than non-smokers, even after accounting for socioeconomic status.  The average IQ for non-smokers was 101, and 94 was the average for men who started smoking before entering the military.The study, published in the journal “Addiction,” also indicated the more a person smoked, the lower his IQ.Those who smoked one to five cigarettes a day scored around 98, while those who smoked more than a pack a day scored around 90.The study also compared siblings in which one brother was a smoker and the other was a non-smoker. The average scores for the non-smoking group were higher than the smoking group.IQ scores from 84 to 116 are considered to indicate average intelligence.The researchers don’t suggest cigarettes cause lower intelligence test scores, but that people with lower IQs are more likely to decide to smoke.Blake Richard, philosophy junior, said the results didn’t surprise him.”A lot of people who don’t go to college tend to smoke more,” Richard said. “They probably aren’t as concerned about their health and their future.”Amy Copeland, psychology professor, studies the cognitive and affective variables in substance use.Copeland said smoking has become increasingly popular with college students, but people who have fewer years of education are more likely to take up smoking.The less educated often have fewer job opportunities, which can lead to increased levels of stress, Copeland said.”Smokers report using cigarettes to alleviate stress,” she said. “And cigarettes are more affordable than other drugs.”The less educated may not have access to adequate health care, Copeland said.”Less access to health care means a lot of things,” she said. “It means you are not in contact with health care providers who tell you to quit smoking and inform you of the specific adverse consequences on your health.”Health care also includes smoking cessation treatments that can be highly effective for heavy smokers, Copeland said.She said the negative correlation between years of education and smoking has been known for some time, but the correlation with IQ scores was new.But the actual cause behind the lower IQs remains unclear. “I can’t imagine that cigarettes are directly causing the lower test scores,” Copeland said.Many students said they also didn’t think the study proved causation.”I know a lot of people who smoke that are smart, and I know people who don’t smoke that are smart,” said Jade Gray, mass communication sophomore.Michael Quartano, English junior, said he could see both sides.”There have been plenty of genius tobacco smokers,” Quartano said. “But I can see how allowing yourself to be addicted to something may be a sign you don’t have the restraint needed for intelligence.”
 
 
 
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