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Addiction and Genetics

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All sorts of genetic research indicates that the addiction to smoking is, in some part, related to your family history. Why? Because certain people are predisposed to nicotine addiction because of a particular hereditary gene responsible for metabolizing nicotine. Indeed, non-smokers are twice as likely to possess a gene mutation that actually helps the body rid itself of nicotine; smokers with the same gene also smoke less because the nicotine leaves their bloodstream slower. Conversely, people without the gene mutation tend to smoke much more, because nicotine leaves their system quicker. Indeed, people with certain genetic mutations can tolerate cigarette smoking much more without getting sick, thus building a higher tolerance, and thus necessitating the need to smoke more. One study has even suggested that genetic predisposition accounts for one half of the reason why smokers get addicted (the other half is attributed to environmental factors). One study has also suggested that people with the non-smoking gene are also less likely to develop smoking related cancer, because the body is less efficient in turning the ingredients in cigarettes into cancer-causing carcinogens.

Yet another study shows nicotine addiction is even harder to break for people with aggressive personalities. Indeed, for aggressive people, nicotine helps to control social response; therefore, if you have a hostile, aggressive personality, you are predisposed to nicotine addiction before you even pick up a cigarette. Conversely, those people with low-hostility rates are less inclined to start smoking and find it much easier to quit if they do pick up the habit.

Note, however, that this genetic predisposition doesn't make it impossible to quit; it just makes it more difficult. And those with a history of nicotine in their families should be that much more inclined not to smoke, because the habit will be that much harder to break.

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