Researchers from Duke University and The National Institute for Drug Abuse recently published an article in Molecular Medicine, stating that we should abandon the one size fits all mentality of smoking cessation and try to develop individual tailored treatment plans for smokers. They conclude that genetics and addiction should dictate the treatment plan, rather than utilizing a stop smoking method simply because your neighbor quit using the same method. Although genetic testing is not a viable option for most physician offices and patients, understanding the smoker’s addiction to nicotine is quite simple to grasp.
This is something we have been touting for months now. It is really just plain common sense, each smoker must understand the physical addiction they have and then by using that information, a treatment plan can be mapped out. Many people ask why one smoker can quit cold turkey while another seems to relapse after every quit attempt. The answer is complicated for sure, but at the root of the question is the addiction.
Everyone’s addiction is different; much like a fingerprint. Your physiology and nicotine receptors act differently from your brother-in-law’s. The researches state they can predict how successful someone will be at quitting by looking at their genes and strength of addiction. Many smokers could probably predict the same thing, without the benefit of a $250,000 research grant.
Remember, 85% of smokers are addicted to nicotine. Within that range are a host of addiction types. Some are triggered by circadian rhythms, others by social cues, still others seem to want a cigarette just because they‘re breathing. Everyone knows somebody who has to have a cigarette when they first wake up in the morning. Sure enough, within five minutes of waking up, they’re lighting one up outside the kitchen door. We also know people who only smoke with meals or when they’re driving.
If anyone has ever thought about quitting, this is probably the most exciting time in medical history to do so. Our understanding of human physiology and behavioral medicine is certainly creating much buzz among research scientists, as well as, clinical practitioners who are trying to convince and help many smokers to finally quit - or at least, try again to quit.
Smoking related illnesses currently cost the US roughly $195 Billion. That’s billion with a “B”. Think of what our country could do with an extra $200 Billion each year? How would our healthcare programs look if suddenly there were 5 million less smokers to treat. How would your insurance rates look?
The Duke researchers stress the importance of understanding your addiction. Here is a great nicotine addiction quiz a smoker can take that will help them understand which quit method might be best for them, based on their addiction.
