| Over the past few decades, an increasing number | | | | variants are not enough to develop addiction. |
| of individuals ranging from minors to teenagers | | | | Myth: " Nicotine addiction is hereditary in nature." |
| including adults are engaging into the habit of | | | | Fact: The nicotinic receptor gene variants may be |
| smoking. As a result, more people are | | | | hereditary however, addiction only results from |
| experiencing the addictive effect of nicotine. Since | | | | the activation of such genes through an external |
| it is actually highly addictive, frequent smokers | | | | factor. This implies that an environmental factor |
| eventually develop nicotine addiction from | | | | may cancel out an addiction gene resulting to its |
| cigarettes. In response, the US government funds | | | | inactivated state. Thus, the children may have the |
| genetic researchers to continuously study genetic | | | | gene but they can always fight it off by not |
| links between nicotine addiction and first time | | | | trying smoking in the first place. |
| smokers and create probable smoking cessation | | | | Myth: " An unpleasant first smoking experience will |
| methods using these newly discovered addiction | | | | not make you vulnerable to nicotine addiction." |
| genetic markers. | | | | Fact: While for most of the people who |
| Genetics of Nicotine Addiction Myths VS Facts | | | | experience something unpleasant tends to avoid |
| Recently, reports of breakthroughs about nicotine | | | | it, circumstances for habitual smoking are quite |
| addiction and its relation to genetics are | | | | different. A recent finding regarding nicotine is that |
| proliferating online. With all these information | | | | a first time encounter seems to suggest intensity, |
| available, it is hard to pinpoint which are true and | | | | rather that pleasure. The shocking results |
| which are not. It is even harder to determine | | | | confirmed that most people who undergone |
| whether these claims are real due to the fact | | | | unpleasant first smoking encounters were the |
| that most of them are merely assumptions and | | | | ones who developed nicotine addiction. |
| still need further investigations. Anyway, to fully | | | | Myth: "Presence of nicotinic receptor genes is the |
| understand about the genetics of addiction, here | | | | root cause of obsession to cigarette smoking." |
| are some misconceptions that should not be | | | | Fact: While it might be true that triggering these |
| confuse with already established facts. | | | | nicotinic receptor gene variants may increase the |
| Myth: " Nicotine addiction is inevitable for nicotinic | | | | chances of developing addiction, an individual's |
| receptor gene variant carriers." | | | | environment still plays a big part of it. Peer |
| Fact: While it is true that carrying a nicotinic | | | | pressure, depression, stress and other external |
| receptor gene variant makes an individual | | | | factors also help in urging the person to smoke |
| vulnerable to addiction, susceptibility does not | | | | which will eventually lead to nicotine addiction. |
| mean inevitability. It is not always certain that | | | | Nonetheless, whether targeting these nicotinic |
| carrying a receptor gene will make a smoker | | | | receptor gene variants may lessen if not prevent |
| exhibit addictive traits. Carriers should just avoid | | | | cases of addiction, it is still a positive breakthrough |
| activating these genes or the best thing to do is | | | | in the field of science. Identifying such genes may |
| not to try smoking as much possible. | | | | prove to be helpful for future creation of possible |
| Myth: " Only one type of nicotinic receptor gene is | | | | cessation methods for cigarette smoking. By |
| all it takes to become susceptible to nicotine | | | | identifying specific nicotinic receptor genes |
| addiction." | | | | responsible for addiction, scientists may uncover |
| Fact: Susceptibility to nicotine addiction requires | | | | probable medications for addiction treatment. |
| interaction of various receptor gene variants. Even | | | | Whether the reality of genetics being responsible |
| a recent research study supports that out of | | | | for addiction is true or not, what is important is |
| 30,000 genes in the body, 594 are more | | | | realizing the fact that there are some reasons |
| activated and 584 are less activated in genes of | | | | behind the cause of nicotine addiction that is |
| smokers compared to non-smokers. It clearly | | | | beyond our control. |
| shows that even 2 or 3 nicotinic receptor gene | | | | |