Is Quitting Smoking Harder for Some Due to Genetic Influence? The Surprising Connection Between Tobacco and DNA

Is Quitting Smoking Harder for Some Due to Genetic Influence? The Surprising Connection Between Tobacco and DNA

Where Does the Difference Between "Heavy Smokers" and "Non-Smokers" Come From?

Even when smoking the same cigarette, some people remain unfazed, while others feel sick after just a few puffs or get headaches from the smell of smoke. Additionally, while some people can't quit despite wanting to, others say, "I never found it tasty in the first place" or "I don't understand the addiction."
For a long time, these "physiological differences" were often attributed to factors like "environment," "personality," and "willpower." However, recent research has increasingly suggested that genes might play a concrete role in these differences.


The Key Lies in "How Nicotine is Processed"

Nicotine is at the core of tobacco addiction. It affects a circuit in the brain known as the "reward system," triggering sensations of pleasure, calmness, and concentration. On the other hand, it can also cause unpleasant reactions like palpitations, nausea, and dizziness.


The balance between "pleasure" and "discomfort," as well as the strength of the desire to "want more," varies among individuals. Research is focusing on a group of genes related to receptors that receive nicotine (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors). Differences in how these receptors are made and function can alter how the brain is affected by the same amount of nicotine. As a result, it's not surprising that some people smoke more or transition to addiction more easily.


Reports of Genetic Variations That "Significantly Change Smoking Amounts"

One report indicates that people with certain genetic variations related to nicotine receptors smoke significantly fewer cigarettes compared to those without these variations. Large-scale analyses have found cases where behavioral indicators like "how many cigarettes are smoked per day" statistically correlate with genetic differences.


It's important to note that this isn't a simple story of "genes make you smoke." Genetic differences influence how nicotine affects you, whether by "intensifying," "weakening," or "making discomfort more likely," which in turn leads to behavioral tendencies. In other words, there may be differences in sensitivity from the starting point.


Are "Allergy-like Reactions" Also Not Unrelated to Genetics?

The term "tobacco allergy" is used in everyday conversation, but medically, it's necessary to distinguish whether it is a strict allergic reaction (specific immune response), intolerance due to irritation (hypersensitivity), or the influence of respiratory diseases.


However, it is a fact that some people experience strong discomfort from smoke, and this is influenced by multiple factors such as receptor sensitivity, detoxification (metabolic) pathways, and susceptibility to inflammatory responses. Advances in genetic research are opening up ways to more precisely explain "why this person suffers even from a small amount" or "why this person experiences strong withdrawal symptoms when quitting."


Does Genetics Provide an "Excuse" or a "Map for Support"?

Whenever this topic spreads, certain reactions inevitably arise.


The perception of genetics as a sort of "get-out-of-jail-free card," with thoughts like "If it's genetic, then it can't be helped" or "So it's okay to smoke?" However, what research shows is merely a "tendency," not a declaration of fate. Even if there are genetic factors, the success of quitting smoking is greatly influenced by environment and support.


Rather, the genetic perspective is useful for "personalized smoking cessation support." For example, for those prone to strong withdrawal symptoms, a combination of nicotine replacement therapy, pharmacotherapy, and behavioral therapy becomes important. Conversely, for those who experience strong discomfort even in small amounts, creating an environment where they are "not exposed in the first place" might be effective. Genetic information should be treated as a "map for support," not as "material for blame."


Mixed Reactions on Social Media: "Relieved," "Scared," "Another Case of Personal Responsibility?"

Topics like genes and behavior tend to spread rapidly on social media. The reactions generally fall into the following categories:

  • Relieved Group: "I've been told I'm weak-willed, but if it's also due to physiology, I can understand," "I don't want it to be just about effort."

  • Cautious Group: "I'm scared of being labeled as a 'smoker' due to genetics," "What if it affects insurance or employment?"

  • Opposition Group: "Using genetics as an excuse to keep smoking," "Ultimately, whether you quit or not is up to the individual."

  • Realistic Group: "It's both genetics and environment," "Stress, poverty, and the smoking rate around you are significant factors."

  • Curious Group: "I wonder which type I am," "If it can be determined through testing, I'd like to try it."


Particularly common are the simultaneous emergence of backlash against "genetics as an excuse" and empathy for "liberation from personal responsibility." Smoking is not only a health issue but also involves social factors like addiction, inequality, stress, culture, and regulation. This is why it often becomes a clash of values.


"If Genes Can Tell, Then Test" Should Be Approached Cautiously

On social media, voices like "Then can't it be determined through genetic testing?" are common. However, at present, it's risky to conclude "You are a heavy smoker type" based solely on general testing results.


The reason is simple: smoking behavior is multifactorial. It is not determined by genes alone, nor can it be explained by a single mutation. Moreover, even with the same genetic factors, outcomes can vary greatly depending on family environment, friendships, workplace stress, advertising, pricing, and the strength of regulations.


If the use of genetic information advances, what is needed is careful application in the context of medical and public health, not "guesswork." Systems that ensure personal benefit and prevent discrimination or surveillance are essential.


Nevertheless, Research Offers Hope: From "Blaming" to "Designing"

Discussions about smoking often tend to become moralistic: "Smokers are bad," "Not being able to quit is indulgence." However, the more we understand the phenomenon of addiction, the more this simplicity crumbles.


Genetic research holds the potential not as material to justify smoking but as a means to increase ways to quit. Support can be tailored to individual differences rather than being uniform. As a society, improvements in the environment, such as access to smoking cessation clinics and medications, prevention of passive smoking, and entry measures for young people, need to be pursued in parallel.


Genes are not an excuse. They are not a card for blame. They are a new lens for thinking more realistically about "how to support."


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