The genetics of nicotine addiction liability: ethical and social policy implications

Addiction
Wayne D HallAdrian Carter

Abstract

To assess the promise and risks of technological applications of genetic research on liability to develop nicotine dependence. We reviewed (i) the evidence on the genetics of nicotine dependence; (ii) the technical feasibility of using genetic information to reduce smoking uptake and increase cessation; and (iii) policy and ethical issues raised by the uses of genetic information on addiction liability. (i) Despite evidence from twin studies that genes contribute to addiction susceptibility, research to date has not identified commonly occurring alleles that are strongly predictive of developing nicotine addiction. Nicotine addiction is likely to involve multiple alleles of small effect that interact with each other and with the environment. (ii) Population screening for susceptibility alleles is unlikely to be effective or cost-effective. Tailoring of smoking cessation treatments with genetic information is more plausible but results to date have been disappointing. Population health strategies such as increased taxation and reduced opportunities to smoke are more efficient in reducing cigarette smoking. Tobacco harm reduction policies applied to populations may also play a role in reducing tobacco-related harm. (iii) Future u...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1996·Community Mental Health Journal·P Backlar
Jan 1, 1997·Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association·C LermanN Caporaso
Nov 14, 1997·American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·N J Schork
Apr 2, 1998·BMJ : British Medical Journal·T M Marteau, R T Croyle
Sep 18, 1998·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·J P PierceA J Farkas
Jul 1, 1999·The New England Journal of Medicine·F S Collins
Dec 11, 1999·BMJ : British Medical Journal·N J WaldC D Frost
Jan 13, 2000·American Journal of Human Genetics·M A Hall, S S Rich
Jul 13, 2000·The New England Journal of Medicine·N A Holtzman, T M Marteau
Nov 7, 2000·The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics : a Journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics·M A Rothstein
Feb 24, 2001·The New England Journal of Medicine·J G Sotos, H Y Rienhoff
Mar 15, 2001·Lancet·P VineisA J McMichael
Mar 21, 2001·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·M J KhouryR Jackson
Apr 28, 2001·BMJ : British Medical Journal·T M Marteau, C Lerman
Sep 8, 2001·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·M A Rothstein, M R Anderlik
Nov 10, 2001·Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics·M R Anderlik, M A Rothstein
Mar 8, 2002·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·Joel N HirschhornKurt Hirschhorn
May 2, 2002·Nature Genetics·Paul D P PharoahBruce A J Ponder
Jul 19, 2002·Cancer Cell·Julian Peto
Nov 20, 2002·Pharmacogenetics·Caryn LermanLeonard Epstein
Jan 3, 2003·The New England Journal of Medicine·Muin J KhouryEdward R B McCabe
Feb 8, 2003·Nicotine & Tobacco Research : Official Journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco·Saul ShiffmanJohn M Pinney
Feb 25, 2003·Lancet·John P A IoannidisDespina G Contopoulos-Ioannidis
Mar 19, 2003·Lancet·Helen M ColhounGeorge Davey Smith
Apr 2, 2003·The American Journal of Psychiatry·Thomas R Insel, Francis S Collins
Apr 16, 2003·Nature·Francis S CollinsUNKNOWN US National Human Genome Research Institute
May 3, 2003·Trends in Molecular Medicine·John P A Ioannidis
Jul 17, 2003·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·Muin J Khoury
Sep 19, 2003·Lancet·Majid Ezzati, Alan D Lopez
Oct 23, 2003·Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association·Caryn LermanLeonard H Epstein
Oct 25, 2003·Science·Kathleen Ries Merikangas, Neil Risch
Nov 20, 2003·Twin Research : the Official Journal of the International Society for Twin Studies·Alun EvansDorret I Boomsma
Dec 9, 2003·Tobacco Control·J FouldsK Fagerström
Dec 12, 2003·Nicotine & Tobacco Research : Official Journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco·Sean P DavidRobert T Walton
Jan 17, 2004·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·Muin J KhouryW Dana Flanders
Mar 3, 2004·Archives of General Psychiatry·George R Uhl, Robert W Grow

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 12, 2009·Psychiatric Genetics·Marilyn E Coors, Kristen M Raymond
Jul 13, 2011·Annals of Family Medicine·Chris CarlstenWylie Burke
Oct 23, 2010·PLoS Medicine·Wayne D HallKatherine I Morley
Nov 28, 2009·American Journal of Epidemiology·Chris Carlsten, Wylie Burke
Nov 26, 2011·Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology·Claire ThiriezPierre Cesaro
Oct 31, 2008·Accountability in Research·Adrian Carter, Wayne Hall
Mar 12, 2013·Social Science Quarterly·Molly J DingelBarbara A Koenig
Nov 12, 2016·Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia = Journal Canadien D'anesthésie·Brent MacNicol
Sep 24, 2015·Science, Technology & Human Values·Molly J DingelBarbara A Koenig
Mar 22, 2018·Science and Engineering Ethics·Greg Rulifson, Angela R Bielefeldt
Sep 28, 2016·Medical Anthropology·Bjarke Nielsen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.