Two proteins linked to nicotine addiction

[flashl]

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A genetic study of 14,000 people from the United States and Europe who smoked found two proteins linked to nicotine addiction.

DNA samples from about 6,000 people were analyzed for about 500,000 known variations in the human genome to determine whether any of the variations predicted cigarettes per day during the period of heaviest smoking for the subjects.

A second population of about 8,000 people, whose smoking histories were known, was analyzed in a similar manner, the result again suggesting that variations in these two genes increased risk for heavy smoking. Taken together, the two studies provide evidence that variations in the alpha 3 and alpha 5 nicotinic receptor subunit genes play a significant role in risk for nicotine addiction.

The researchers said the alpha 3 and alpha 5 nicotinic receptor subunits will be made targets for new smoking cessation medication development programs by pharmaceutical companies.

UPI

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

1. More future money for the drug companies----what a surprise.

[eleny]

2. After smoking for a number of years, I stopped caring to have a cig

I did enjoy them even though I rarely smoked one all the way down. Maybe this is why I finally simply lost interest and quit lighting up even for a few drags.

[wintersoulja]

3. they already have effective medication to stop nicotine addiction

My friend was given it by his doctor. Hasnt smoked in over a year, and he always swore he JUST COULDNT QUIT, after trying so many times.
Now, if that sort of medication has been available, why isnt it widely known and prescribed, let alone advertised?
sorry, rhetorical question.

[Mojorabbit]

4. If you are talking about Chantix

my neurologist says she will not be surprised if it is pulled from the market due to horror stories she is hearing. I became suicidal on it after two weeks and my doc pulled me off it. I was back to normal within two days.If you google it you will find lots of info on the problems they are finding. Some people can take it without any problems though it seems.

[tridim]

8. I was on the previous drug, can remember the name

but it was also an anti-depressant. It turned me into a raging monster within a few days so I had to stop.

I'm not smoking now, but I'm still addicted to Commit Lozenges. At least they're fairly safe relative to cigs.

[Sal Minella]

5. Silly you.

[Warpy]

7. Have you read the list of possible side effects?

Not everybody can tolerate these medications. I wish they could.

Maybe now that these new variants have been discovered, drugs can target them more effectively and with fewer side effects.

Addiction sucks. Nobody wants to be addicted, not even the hardest core junkies on the street. They just ARE.

[Warpy]

6. I wouldn't be surprised to find that these receptors

also play a part in other addictions, like opiates and cocaine. Most people can try these two drugs and walk away. A few try them and never want to do anything else with their lives. I've seen it in action, and there is no "addictive personality." There's only addictive brain chemistry.