Study Finds That Those Addicted To Smoking Are Born To Stay Hooked

Finally, someone is saying what I have believed for a very, very long time, smokers who’ve tried to give up cigarettes and failed now have another perfectly valid reason for it - they were born to be (and stay) addicted.

Scientists have identified genetic traits in humans that represent addictiveness and it looks like it is an inherited trait for smokers who have tried but failed to kick the habit. Scientists say that these findings could possibly lead the way toward testing a individual's genetic make-up to help determine whether or not they could be weaned off cigarettes with the help of a specifically targeted treatment for that individual. "The long-term hope is that identifying genetic variables in smokers will help us determine which type of treatment would be most effective", said Jed Rose of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. "Knowing a smoker's genetic make-up could indicate how intensely they need to be treated. People who are having trouble quitting because of their genes might need more treatment to overcome their addiction." The latest research into the addictiveness of cigarettes suggest that genes play a significant role in both making someone dependent on smoking in the first place, and making it more difficult for them to quit once they have started. This study is part of a huge study of the human genome that is investigating what role genes play in the formation of an individual's psychological makeup, such as whether they have an “inherited predisposition” to addictiveness or to risk-taking behavior. "This research marks the first time we've been able to identify genes involved in the ability to quit smoking," said Nora Volkow, director of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse in Washington. "It marks a movement from identifying the genetics of addiction vulnerability to identifying the genetic basis of successful abstinence. This knowledge could impact the success rate of cessation programmes by helping health-care providers choose the most appropriate treatment based on individual differences." The US Government and cigarette making giant Philip Morris funded the scientists' study. More than 520,000 genes were screened in order to compare the genetic variations found amongst smokers who had given up smoking successfully against the genetic variations found amongst the smokers who had tried to quit but had failed. "We identified 221 genes that distinguished successful quitters from those who were unsuccessful," said George Uhl, who carried out that analysis at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “We know the functions of about 187 of these genes, but 34 have functions that are unknown at present. We also found that at least 62 of the genes that we had previously identified as playing roles in dependence to other drugs also contribute to nicotine dependence. These findings lend further support to the idea that nicotine dependence shares some common genetic vulnerabilities with addictions to other legal and illegal substances." Dr. Rose says that they identified one gene that seems to be different between smokers who give up and those who can't. It is called cadherin 13, and it produces a substance that is known to be involved in controlling how nerve cells in the brain stick together (what exactly that means, I don’t think I want to know!). "Smokers whose nerve cell connections are not working properly may be more vulnerable to addiction and may face a tougher time quitting. These findings open up new possibilities in finding specific targets for treatment." The scientists also found that another one of the genes that was identified to be a part of smoking addictiveness is also known to play a role in controlling how people respond to stress. The scientists are now moving into the next stage of the research study where they will test different forms of stop-smoking treatments to see how effective they are on people with different genetic make-ups. I was a long term smoker who at one time, gave it up for almost 10 years, started smoking again, and now have given it up for a second time due to health reasons, going on three years now. I can tell you, that it was something that I knew I had to do, but I've always believed that my brain was wired differently. I know people who have quit and do their utmost to get everyone around them to quit or at least not smoke in front of them. Me, I sit beside people who smoke and breath in the second hand stuff. I mean, how addicted is that? I can be walking down a street and pass by someone smoking and just breath it in like I'm smelling something wonderful like lilac trees in the Spring. This study really confirms my past assertions that I was born a smoker and will always remain that way.