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Hope for addiction treatment with new research

New research could offer renewed hope to addicts, with the identification of genetic risk factors for addiction.

An international team of scientists exploring the link between genes and addiction have identified a specific gene mutation that can affect a person's susceptibility to nicotine dependence.

The SNP variant was found to be more common in heavier smokers, said the report in the journal Nature Genetics.

Following a study of over 80,000 people, the researchers claim that about half of people of European descent are likely to carry this variant.

Rather than determining the likelihood of a person taking up smoking, the presence of the gene appears to make it more difficult to quit the habit.

This is seen as a potential breakthrough in the quest to find treatment for addiction.

Furthermore, it was discovered that those carrying the gene mutation had almost a 30 per cent higher risk of contracting lung cancer.

According to Cancer Research, figures published in 2005 showed that nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of the population of the UK aged 16 and over smoke cigarettes. This equates to around 11 million people.

Article originally published on 21/04/2008 by DryOutNow.com, the alcohol specific website for Addiction Advisor

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