Children who eat candy cigarettes seem to be more likely to end up as smokers, according to a new study.

The research found that 22 percent of smokers said they had regularly had candy cigarettes as kids, and 14 percent of nonsmokers said the same.

Twelve percent of smokers said they had never tried the candy, and 22 percent of non-smokers hadn't.

The survey looked at more than 25,000 adults.

Authors of the study said past research has show that playing with candy cigarettes may desensitize children to the risk of cigarettes.

"Candy and gum look-alike products allow children to respond to tobacco marketing and advertising long before they are old enough to smoke a cigarette," said author Jonathan Klein of the University of Rochester.

Countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada currently restrict candy cigarette sales. Some U.S. companies -- such as Wal-Mart -- have a company-wide policy banning the sale of cigarette look-alike products to minors.