Scientists Find Nicotine Addiction Gene Aug 10, 2008
Researchers have pinpointed a gene that helps determine if an individual is at a risk for developing a nicotine addiction ... 2005 by Tomasz Sienicki The scientists found that people who have the less common "rs16969968" form of the nicotine receptor gene "CHRNA5" are much more likely to experience a pleasurable buzz than people who have the gene's more common form ... The scientists concluded that this gene variant causes some people to have an increased susceptibility to nicotine addiction, a... (Inventorspot)
Gene hooks smokers at first puff Aug 9, 2008
However, scientists are hoping that by cracking the genetic secrets of nicotine addiction, they could make it easier for people to wean themselves off cigarettes, or even stop them taking up the habit in the first place. The gene in question, CHRNA5, has already been highlighted by other studies into nicotine addiction, and it has been suggested that it could increase a smoker's chance of developing lung cancer ... The Michigan research, however, suggests that it could be at work from the very... (BBC News)
First puff a pleasure for genetic smokers Aug 9, 2008
The research is part of a growing understanding of genetic factors involved in nicotine addiction and lung cancer. Teams of scientists reported earlier this year that smokers who had certain changes in three nicotine receptor genes which control entry of nicotine into brain cells were more likely to develop lung cancer than other smokers ... This week, Canadian researchers said that, by manipulating receptors for the chemical dopamine, they were able to control which rats in a study... (MSNBC -- Health)
There's progress in getting Massachusetts smokers to quit Aug 9, 2008
BOSTON Joanne Lynn smoked cigarettes for 35 years until today, when she made the decision to place a nicotine replacement patch on her arm and quit smoking once and for all. Lynn joined the ranks of more than 7,000 Massachusetts smokers who have taken advantage of a nicotine patch giveaway sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) ... Lynn s big moment came during a State House press conference where health officials announced a significant improvement in the state s adult... (Woburn Advocate, MA)
Medical notes: smoking Aug 9, 2008
Nicotine, an ingredient of tobacco, is listed as an addictive substance by the US authorities. Although the health risks of smoking are culmulative, giving up can yield health benefits regardless of the age of the patient, or the length of time they have been smoking. (BBC News -- Health)
Gene May Be To Blame For Cigarette Addiction Aug 9, 2008
The new finding also adds to growing suspicion surrounding the role of a particular nicotine-receptor gene in smoking-related behaviors and in lung cancer. Other researchers have already linked variations in the same genetic region to smokers' level of dependence on nicotine, to the number of cigarettes smoked per day and to a far higher risk of lung cancer the ultimate outcome of a lifetime of smoking ... In a paper published online today in the journal Addiction, a multi-university... (Science Daily)
Gene Variant May Decide Who Smokes and for How Long Aug 9, 2008
The finding about the variant in the CHRNA5 nicotine receptor gene may help explain how someone goes from trying their first cigarette to becoming a long-term smoker. Previous studies have inked variations in the same genetic region to a smoker's level of nicotine dependence, to the number of cigarettes smoker per day, and to an increased risk of lung cancer ... "It appears that for people who have a certain genetic makeup, the initial physical reaction to smoking can play a significant role in... (Health-Finder)
New research could prevent nicotine addiction Aug 7, 2008
Canadian researchers have discovered the way to manipulate how the brain processes the addictive and rewarding properties of cigarettes, which could lead to treatments that prevent nicotine addiction in those most susceptible to it. Researchers from the University of Western Ontario conducted an experiment in mice to explore why some people are turned off by their first experiences with nicotine while others enjoy it and quickly become addicted ... They identified the subtype of the... (CTV.ca)
Why Some Smokers Become Addicted With Their First Cigarette Aug 7, 2008
6, 2008) New research from The University of Western Ontario reveals how the brain processes the 'rewarding' and addictive properties of nicotine, providing a better understanding of why some people seemingly become hooked with their first smoke ... The research, led by Steven Laviolette of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry could lead to new therapies to prevent nicotine dependence and to treat nicotine withdrawal when smokers try to quit... (Science Daily)
Survey shows fewer Ala. teens puffing away Aug 7, 2008
Smokers who are trying to quit can call the toll-free line to talk with counselors and sign up for over-the-counter quit aids like nicotine patches. Teens can call the line for counseling, but health officials are waiting on an opinion from the attorney general's office to see if nicotine patches can be distributed to them. (AL.com)
Smoking reported down 8 percent in state Aug 6, 2008
Part of that money went to pay for a nicotine patch giveaway campaign ... Smokers can receive free access to nicotine patches, telephone counseling and group counseling ... Smokers are also taking advantage of other benefits to having health insurance, such as access to nicotine replacements and support groups. (Lexington Minuteman, MA)
The new smoking ban battleground: detox clinics Aug 6, 2008
Most of the recent research has shown patients who receive nicotine patches or inhalers during addiction treatment have a better chance of beating their heroin and crack addictions, she says ... Treatment for nicotine addiction was made available to all clients ... CONCLUSIONS The study compared patients who quit smoking, with the aid of nicotine patches or inhalers, to those who continued to smoke during detox treatment. (Globe and Mail)
Suit on light and low-tar cigarettes heads to SJC Aug 6, 2008
In 1998, amid mounting evidence that nicotine is addictive, the tobacco industry agreed to the landmark $246 billion settlement in exchange for a promise by state attorneys general to drop lawsuits aimed at forcing the industry to pay for smoking-related health costs incurred through Medicaid. Around the same time, internal documents extracted from cigarette companies through lawsuits revealed that light cigarettes -- marketed to more health-conscious smokers since the early 1970s -- often... (Yahoo News -- Tobacco Lawsuits)
One Cigarette Can Addict Aug 6, 2008
For some people, one cigarette is all it takes to become hooked on nicotine, while others are repelled by it ... By manipulating specific molecular doorways into brain cells called receptors, they were able to control which rats in the study enjoyed their first exposure to nicotine and which were repelled by it ... "Our findings may explain an individual's vulnerability to nicotine addiction and may point to new pharmacological treatments for the prevention of it and the treatment of nicotine... (Newsmax)
Help! I just turned thirty! Aug 5, 2008
Smokers and coffee addicts beware, for nicotine and caffeine can do the skin a lot of harm. Choose cleansers and face washes with a good PH balance and dont step out without a sunscreen, Dr. Sharad urges. (India Times, India)
Quitting Time: A Look at Smoking and Preventing Diabetes and Heart Disease Aug 5, 2008
After just three days, the nicotine leaves your body and each breath comes easier ... Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can help ... Options include the nicotine patch, gum, lozenges, inhaler or nasal spray. (Pekin Times, IL)
Helping athletes breathe easy Aug 5, 2008
Smoking was banned in most public places in the northern capital, even though about one-quarter of the city's 17 million people have a nicotine habit. Construction work was curbed or halted. (Globe and Mail -- Technology)
HEALTH BLOG: Read the latest child wellness tips Aug 5, 2008
" Specifically, 20% said they'd smoked cigarettes, while 19.7% said they'd used marijuana. Both were down slightly from 2005, but the difference between that year and 2007 isn't statistically significant, according to the CDC. Although equal numbers of teens reported smoking cigarettes or using marijuana for at least one day in the previous month, I'm sure they smoked cigarettes more frequently. The CDC reports that about 8% of those surveyed said they'd smoked cigarettes for at least 20 of the... (USA Today -- Money)
Capitol Comments Aug 5, 2008
To help those trying to quit smoking, Massachusetts residents can get free nicotine patches through Aug. 31 (or while supplies last) by calling 1-800-879-8678. BONE MARROW & BASEBALL: Bill Monbouquette, a Massachusetts native and former Major League Baseball pitcher (a three time All-Star) who played for the Red Sox and other teams was recently issued a Resolution from the legislature in the House Chamber. (Beacon Villager, MA)
Is federal regulation of tobacco necessary? Aug 4, 2008
Under the bill, the FDA would not be able to ban cigarettes completely or order the elimination of nicotine from tobacco products. But the FDA could reduce the nicotine content in cigarettes, even down to nonaddictive levels, according to press reports. (Greenville News)
Relax marijuana laws (335) Aug 4, 2008
tmt wrote on Aug 3, 2008 12:08 PM:" Bonnie:You've made some great points about Mary Jane. Being high also impedes your response time. While smoking pot isn't in of itself "dangerous" or "violent" the lack of ability of it's user to respond appropriate while driving or working in a situation where they are responsible for more than the remote control is greatly compromised.PS- smokers are dangerous to more than themselves. 2nd hand smoke is dangerous to others. As nicotine cools (as it gets... (Rockingham Daily Journal, NC)
Labour's 'factions' scrutinised Aug 3, 2008
The Sunday People says nicotine patches are being given to 12-year-olds to held them stop smoking. The Sunday Express says health advisors are advising "confused" children should be given puberty-delaying drugs in case they choose sex-change operations. (BBC News -- UK)
Melrosians, the state wants to help you quit Aug 3, 2008
For the next month, the free nicotine patch giveaway program has been extended to help residents quit. For more information on the free nicotine patch program, contact 617-573-1600 or 617-210-5000. (Melrose Free Press, MA)
* Take away their menthols? Is that cool? Aug 3, 2008
He has tried wearing nicotine patches, and he doubts that a menthol ban would work, either. "Most likely I'd continue to smoke it underground, or I'd switch to other cigarettes," he said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
A watchdog for big tobacco Aug 1, 2008
One is that the FDA cannot completely ban cigarettes or addictive nicotine ... The FDA could reduce nicotine to a nonaddictive level if it decided that was necessary to protect public health. (Boston Globe)
House Passes Bill to Regulate Tobacco Aug 1, 2008
While the agency could not outlaw tobacco or nicotine, it could demand the reduction or elimination of cancer-causing chemicals in cigarette smoke. The bill would prohibit candy flavored cigars and cigarettes, and would give the FDA authority to ban menthol by far the most commonly added flavoring. (Fox News -- Politics)
Local Briefs Jul 31, 2008
As a professional athlete, I want all baseball fans to understand that the tobacco industry sells only nicotine addiction, no matter which product it puts on the shelves ... Spit tobacco delivers about five times the nicotine as a single cigarette ... The free Montana Tobacco Quit Line, funded by MTUPP, offers help so tobacco users quit for good, including free telephone counseling and nicotine replacement therapy. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
House Backs FDA Control of Tobacco Jul 31, 2008
The bill wouldn't allow the FDA to ban cigarettes or nicotine altogether. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt has suggested that it would divert FDA resources and personnel to an area in which it has no experience. (Wall Street Journal)
Broad tobacco regulation bill clears House Jul 31, 2008
The agency would not be empowered to ban cigarettes or require nicotine levels of zero. The bill would authorize millions of dollars of fees levied on the industry starting in fiscal 2009 to fund the program. (Scientific American)
Study Supports Health Benefits Of Smoking Ban Jul 31, 2008
Then they searched for a molecule that's the product of nicotine metabolism -- cotinine. The presence of cotinine can definitively classify patients as smokers or nonsmokers instead of relying on self-reporting by patients. (Wall Street Journal)
San Antonio is hooked on hookah trend Jul 31, 2008
And while hookah tobacco contains less nicotine than cigarette tobacco, a hookah smoker, during a one hour session, inhales the equivalent of 100 to 200 times the amount of smoke in a single cigarette. Pages: 1. (San Antonio Business Journal, TX)
House bill sets more limits on tobacco; heads to Senate Jul 31, 2008
By Wendy Koch, USA TODAY Cigarettes would carry larger warning labels, their ads would be limited, candy flavoring would be banned and nicotine levels might be lowered under landmark legislation the U.S. House passed Wednesday. The bill would give the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products. (USA Today)
Scotland smoking ban credited with fewer heart attacks Jul 31, 2008
Nurses also interviewed patients about their cigarette use and exposure to secondhand smoke, confirming those answers with blood tests that measure nicotine exposure. Posted. (USA Today)
New vaccine could curb drug addiction Jul 30, 2008
Washington Vaccines that can help people fight addictions to harmful drugs such as nicotine and methamphetamine could be available to the public within two or three years, four leading drug abuse researchers told a congressional briefing Tuesday. The researchers said they all had developed vaccines that work in the same basic way. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Smoking banned in Wasilla-owned vehicles Jul 30, 2008
She went on to say nicotine is a drug, and allowing it to be used in city owned vehicles was, essentially, allowing drug use in the work place. Mondays vote also brought to light concerns that banning smoking in city vehicles could be detrimental to union negotiations that are ongoing with some city employees. (Wasilla Frontiersman, AK)
Your DNA's in the post Jul 29, 2008
BEING ROB LIDDLE Alcohol flush reaction - no Nicotine dependence - normal Baldness - likely before age 40 Can taste bitter flavours - yes. "It should be your decision - we are not ramming it down anyone's throat. How you use it depends on who you are, but you are entitled to make the choice of getting the information or not getting it. "But you can get so much out of it - it could be extremely beneficial to know that you are at a higher risk. (BBC News -- UK)
Pubs are the last place I'd want to drink in Jul 29, 2008
Po-faced, chippy, women - usually ZaNuLabour cabinet ministers or "professors" from the University of West Cumberland (formerly Whitehaven Tec) - still take to the airwaves to hector "ordinary, hard working families" on the recommended intake of alcoholic units per week or the dangers of passive nicotine, but outside the studio the masses are binge drinking and smoking skunk and it's not even safe to walk the streets of our towns and cities any more - unless, of course, you're a ZaNuLabour... (Telegraph.co.uk)
Head-to-Head Study Results Demonstrated No Significant Difference Between NiQuitin(R) Patch and Champix (Varenicline Tartrate) in Long Term Quit Rates Jul 28, 2008
Therapeutic nicotine is widely available without the need for a prescription or a visit to a doctor's office. " No treatment -- prescription or OTC -- has proven more effective than GSK's therapeutic nicotine products in helping smokers quit, long term Therapeutic nicotine products like NiQuitin patch and lozenge are first-line treatments for smoking cessation and are thoroughly researched, well-understood and highly accessible stop smoking therapies.(2) These products help reduce nicotine... (Canada Newswire)
The fix on tobacco Jul 28, 2008
The political climate is certainly ripe for federal action on nicotine ... Government has a role in restricting companies that peddle this weed, especially when the industry purposely enhances the level of nicotine delivered in each cigarette, as recently revealed in a study by the Harvard School of Public Health. (Christian Science Monitor)
Deadly dithering Jul 28, 2008
What it would do is specify, for the first time, the authority of the FDA to require tobacco companies to disclose just what it is that is in those products and to reduce or eliminate some of those ingredients though nicotine could not be banned. Perhaps most important, the agency would be empowered to regulate the marketing of tobacco products, especially marketing aimed at young people. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Opinion)
Pregnancy can motivate smokers to kick habit Jul 28, 2008
And that rate is especially high, he says, given that pregnant women are typically advised against using smoking-cessation medications, such as nicotine patches or gum ... "It breaks quitting up into smaller segments of time," says Orleans, who says women in the program had their blood tested for nicotine byproducts. (USA Today)
Editor's notes: Not the only one blowing smoke Jul 27, 2008
I was initially heartened to see that the state was offering smokers a free two-week supply of nicotine patches in conjunction with the tax increase. My opinion, though, quickly shifted. (Kingston Mariner, MA)
Billionaires Pour Millions Into Anti-Smoking Campaign Jul 25, 2008
All they need is to become addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes. KWTX.com Features. (KWTX.com, TX)
Billionaires Back Antismoking Effort Jul 25, 2008
It will urge governments to sharply raise tobacco taxes, prohibit smoking in public places, outlaw advertising to children and cigarette giveaways, start antismoking advertising campaigns and offer people nicotine patches or other help quitting. Health officials, consumer advocates, journalists, tax officers and others from third world countries will be brought to the United States for workshops on topics like lobbying, public service advertising, catching cigarette smugglers and running... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Bloomberg, Gates target smoking Jul 24, 2008
The campaign will urge governments to sharply raise tobacco taxes, outlaw smoking in public places, outlaw advertising to children and free giveaways of cigarettes, start antismoking advertising campaigns, and offer their citizens nicotine patches or other help quitting. Third World health officials, consumer groups, journalists, tax officers, and others will be brought to the United States for workshops on lobbying, public service advertising, catching cigarette smugglers, and running telephone... (Boston Globe)
N.Y. bans smoking at recovery centers Jul 24, 2008
Nicotine helps (addicts) get through the day, he said. Now you take the nicotine away from us, its almost impossible to get through the day ... addiction is addiction, I understand that, but nicotine is a legal substance. (MSNBC -- Health)
Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg to fund anti-smoking campaign Jul 24, 2008
Under it, governments will be urged to raise tobacco taxes sharply, outlaw smoking in public places, outlaw advertising to children and free giveaways of cigarettes, start anti-smoking advertising campaigns and offer their citizens nicotine patches or other help in quitting. Today in Americas. (International Herald Tribune)
Federal tobacco oversight rising from the ashes Jul 24, 2008
It s time that federal health authorities finally be given the power to regulate nicotine ... The agency, in fact, has resisted calls from anti-smoking advocates to regulate nicotine for at least a couple of decades, insisting that it had no such authority so long as tobacco companies avoided making claims that their products were providing health benefits ... A 2007 Harvard School of Public Health study showing that the tobacco industry may have manipulated nicotine content did much to soften... (Longview Daily News, WA)
Tobacco chemical brain drug hope Jul 24, 2008
The nicotine in tobacco may have benefits ... Cotinine is formed when the body breaks down nicotine, but does not cause the same side effects, such as addiction ... Nicotine is the prime habit-forming ingredient in tobacco - and while it has some pleasureable effects on the brain, it can also cause constricted blood vessels, stomach cramps and nausea. (Yahoo News -- Parkinson's Disease)
Bush may block bill to regulate tobacco Jul 23, 2008
Although the government would not be able to outlaw tobacco or ban nicotine, regulators could demand elimination of other hazardous ingredients in cigarettes. The bill represents a compromise between antitobacco activists and USA, the nation's largest tobacco company. (Boston Globe)
Coffee drinking, smoking common in AA members Jul 23, 2008
He pointed out that coffee and tobacco both affect the brain, but while nicotine and alcohol act on the same "reward pathways" in the brain, caffeine operates differently. It's possible that coffee drinking actually aids alcoholism recovery, while smoking might hinder it, according to Martin. (Yahoo News)
White House opposes giving FDA authority to regulate tobacco Jul 23, 2008
The government would not be able to outlaw tobacco or ban nicotine, but regulators could demand elimination of other hazardous ingredients in cigarettes. Leavitt objects to having an agency associated with public health regulate tobacco products. (KRNV.com, NV)
Menthol cigarettes target "young smokers" Jul 22, 2008
Menthol is being used to increase the addictiveness of the nicotine though Menthol in itself is not addictive in nature. It decreases the harshness of smoke and changes its smell by making it more appealing. (TopNews)
Diablo Grande Is Bedeviled Jul 21, 2008
Sprawling across some 28,500 acres of ranchland - roughly twice the size of Manhattan - developer Donald Panoz, multimillionaire inventor of the nicotine patch, envisioned 5,000 to 10,000 homes, a resort hotel and spa, six golf courses, an equestrian center, vineyards, a winery and commercial properties, including a high-tech research park. But today, after Panoz and his partners sank more than $120 million into the project, Diablo Grande is mired in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and is... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Business)
More Smokers Seek Help With Quitting Since Latest Cigarette Tax Took Effect Jul 21, 2008
He said he managed to cut back from a pack a day to about eight cigarettes using the nicotine patch, but decided he needed more help quitting completely. So on Wednesday morning, he went to the smoking-cessation program at St. Luke s-Roosevelt Hospital Center to get a prescription for Chantix, a non-nicotine medication that reduces the urge to smoke ... Mr. Randolph estimated that 90 to 95 percent of the people he talked to requested a free two-week supply of nicotine-replacement therapy:... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Nassau teens above state average for tobacco use Jul 21, 2008
The fact is nicotine, the addictive drug in cigarettes, is more addictive than cocaine or heroin ... Some of the other effects of smokeless tobacco use include addiction to nicotine, oral leukoplakia (white mouth lesions that can become cancerous), gum disease and gum recession (when the gum pulls away from the teeth). (Florida Times-Union)
Joint not the same since the Dutch banned tobacco Jul 20, 2008
Coffee shop patrons in Amsterdam can puff on pot indoors but must head outside for nicotine. THOMAS Weise, a 23-year-old Danish tourist, sits in a coffee shop in central Amsterdam, pinioned by Holland's bizarre smoking laws. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Study: Young Smokers Lured With Menthol Jul 19, 2008
But some experts believe that menthol could increase the addictiveness of the nicotine. "The driving factor behind any behavior is addiction to the nicotine," Kreslake tells WebMD. Adding menthol, she says, makes smoking easier to tolerate for young smokers. (WebMD)
Tobacco Industry Manipulated Cigarette Menthol Content To Recruit New Smokers Among Young People, Research Shows Jul 19, 2008
Menthol masks the harshness and irritation of cigarettes, allowing delivery of an effective dose of nicotine, the addictive chemical in cigarettes. These milder products were then marketed to the youngest potential consumers. (Science Daily)
Suit on light and low-tar cigarettes heads to SJC Jul 19, 2008
In 1998, amid mounting evidence that nicotine is addictive, the tobacco industry agreed to the landmark $246 billion settlement in exchange for a promise by state attorneys general to drop lawsuits aimed at forcing the industry to pay for smoking-related health costs incurred through Medicaid. Around the same time, internal documents extracted from cigarette companies through lawsuits revealed that light cigarettes -- marketed to more health-conscious smokers since the early 1970s -- often... (Yahoo News -- Tobacco Lawsuits)
Coffee and cigarette consumption are high among AA attendees Jul 19, 2008
Martin and his colleagues asked participants (n=289) in all open AA meetings during the summer of 2007 in Nashville, TN to self-report a variety of information: a "timeline followback" for coffee, cigarette and alcohol consumption, the AA Affiliation Scale, coffee consumption and effects questions, the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, and the Smoking Effects Questionnaire ... "I think that it is important for alcohol researchers and clinicians to know that alcoholics, even those who do... (EurekAlert!)
Menthol cigarettes 'target young' Jul 18, 2008
A Harvard University team said menthol masks the harshness of cigarette smoke, meaning new smokers get more nicotine. They said industry documents showed US firms tested menthol levels for their appeal to different ages. (BBC News -- Health)
Nicotine may help Alzheimer patients, says a study Jul 18, 2008
The research has found that nicotine based drugs has shown signs of improvement in brain ... This brighter part of smoking does not undermine the deadly risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke or addiction among tobacco users, as nicotine has multiple effects ... In the recent study conducted by scientists from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, London, the researchers find that nicotine present in tobacco, though is addictive and harmful, but can augment memory, learning, attention... (Newstrack India)
Big Tobacco Lures Young Smokers with Menthol Cigarettes Jul 18, 2008
Menthol itself is not addictive, but it can ease the "delivery" of nicotine, which is highly addictive. More than 70 percent of African-American smokers use menthol cigarettes, compared with about 30 percent of white smokers. (MEDLINEplus)
New Research Indicates Cigarette Makers Manipulate Menthol Levels To Attract Young Smokers Jul 17, 2008
The report went on to describe that menthol products tend to mask the harshness of smoke inhalation, allowing for nicotine to enter the systems of these new smokers who subsequently become addicted. In response to this information, tobacco companies introduced new menthol brands with lower menthol levels to appeal to younger smokers and to gain a larger market share. (PR Newswire)
