Can't Quit Smoking? It May Be In Your DNA

(CBS)  Donna Grissom has tried everything.

"Over the years, I tried the patches, gum," she says, adding that she failed every time. But now, scientists say "quitting smoking" is less about determination and more about DNA, CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reports.

In a study released Monday, scientists identified more than 200 genes that distinguish successful quitters from the unsuccessful. Eighty percent of smokers who will try to quit this year will fail.

"Only one in four people use drugs to help them. We could get better success if smokers would use what is out there," says Dr. Nancy Rigotti of Harvard Medical School.

Grissom is. She's taking a newly approved drug called Chantix. It works by attaching to neurons in the brain, blocking the pleasure sensation of smoking.

"My urge did go away. The cravings weren't as much," Grissom says.

But even on Chantix, half the quitters relapse after a year. Scientists are researching another drug called Nic-Vax ... as in vaccination. The series of shots are designed to prevent nicotine from entering the brain and causing addiction.

"They don't get the pleasure they have normally experienced," says Dr. Dorothy Hatsukami of the University of Minnesota.

---

Only On The Web: Tobacco researcher Dr. Dorothy Hatsukami talks about the difficulties of quitting smoking.

---

After 20 years of smoking and trying to quit, Ken Kleinpaste joined the Nic-Vax trial to give it one last shot.

He hasn't smoked in seven months.

"I can smell and breathe better," he adds.

Scientists hope the new information about the genes that help us stop smoking could help doctors find the best way to make it stick. After all, quitting is easy. Many smokers have done that hundreds of times.

---

To learn about ways to quit smoking, you can go to:

StopSmokingDoctors.com

Palisadesmedical

Chantix

Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use And Dependence

[edlaserman]

I'm 87. I smoke. Two packs a day. Some of us don't register on the radar because we have never tried to quit in the first place. I started smoking at the ripe old age of 11, and my doctor tells me that I make him mad because I have no signs of lung disease. (Although I had a heart attack at 46 and another at 77.) Perhaps DNA also predicts who will have adverse affects from smoking or not?

[mercen144]

Yea i started smoking when I was 14 years old. After 12 years of trying to quit i just about gave up.
Then a buddy of mine introduced me to an e-cig. I tried it but did not like it too much. It did not give me enough nicotine to get off cigarettes completely. Then I ran into to http://www.libertyvapor.com and I checked out thier product figuring since it was a 30 day money back garantee i could afford it. Since I spent so much on cigarettes and was having a hard time breathing i figured I would give it a try. Let me tell you that it really helped me quit. Since then I have even stopped using the electronic cigarette. I highly recommend anybody trying to quit to give it a try. It might be the best choice you ever made.

[rf35]

Where can I get information on laser therapy to quit? I've tried unsuccessfully multiple times. Pills, patches, gum...nothing. As soon as the prescription runs out, I'm back to getting the uncontrollable cravings. And I can't afford to buy the OTC aids...they cost twice as much as the cigarettes! I%u2019m willing to try just about anything at this point.

[viviangreg]

I guess why is it that laser therapy to quit smoking is not being widely reported on, since it is the most efficient and successful way to quit without suffering neither from quitting, nor from side effects. Labs are foreseeing huge profits from pills that will do more harm than good to consumers, that is why they are investing hefty sums of money in advertising and "reports". Unfortunately, there is no "Laser Therapy Industry" to pay in order to inform the public about its amazing success... but if you are trying to quit, give it a chance, you'll be glad you did.
Vivian

[kiddo88]

it certainly does not help that the amount of nicotine per cigarette has increased 10% in the last few years...Nicotine % itself should be regulated! Capped! Anything! Effing ridiculous that its illegal to smoke medicinal pot when a substance as addictive as heroine is not only legal, but heavily taxed (who makes a profit off the industry? the gov't)

[jefitzgerald]

Now the scientist are saying that the ability to quit smoking is connected to DNA. It is also reported that smoking causes cancer so when will the experts connect cancer to DNA. Pianoman42 said his uncle smoked but still lived to 86 so where was the cancer. I believe that cancer is connected to DNA and some people will never get cancer because of there DNA makeup.

[sevenveils]

"Cigarettes are the worst item made legal possible. Just give everyone a gun and let them randomly fire and kill people. Alcohol is next worse, but just for driving mainly. This is what lobbyists do for you.

They kill you by making laws, just like GW Bush has made laws to make all his friends richer and the masses poorer." - billysmith6

That's right billy, it's also time to push marijuana legal reform laws

[minminmin-2009]

I smoked for 10 years, then quit and quit and quit. I got really good at quitting; had a lot of practice. Finally tho, I quit for good and it was one of the best things I've done in my life. I don't think it matters how you quit, or what causes you to have trouble with it. The take home message here is "QUIT!" However you can...I went cold turkey, but if you need an injection, or patch, or gum, just do it.

[michellem99-2009]

I read the story and I tell you that is not true.My father is on oxygen becaused he smoked. He don't now. Grumpus said it. Thank you. My dear friend smoked for years. My friend is 55. He has diabetes type 2, 3 heart attacks, lung problems etc.,caused by his smoking for years. I know and to see him everyday do his meds. because of cigerettes is not pretty. He quit cold turkey . He did not use them quit smoking aids. He made up his mind and quit.I have never allowed smoking in our home. Once a person quits they should never smoke. I hate 2rd hand smoke as it a killer just as smoking is. Smoking does damage to the body. Smoking is an addiction but you have the power to beat it. It is call will power. You can quit cold turkey. You will save money by not buying smokes.I do care. Thank you for not Smoking. This my say.

[gangesdak]

Sob stories! Cant't quit smoking. Father is to blame, mother is to blame, me the prince/princess! I quit smoking with no difficulty at all. No patches, no gradual stepping. Just walked away. Never complained.

[humblepedantic]

and you are so cool you first felt the need to put others down before boasting of your own accomplishment. do they make a pill to help you quit being a poor excuse for humanity or can you cold turkey that one too?