The Genetics of Drug Dependence: Tobacco Addiction

Most people experiment with cigarette smoking in childhood or adolescence. Why do some but not others become regular smokers? Most smokers in the United States say they would like to quit smoking. Why are some successful and others not? A central issue in understanding and treating drug dependence is the source of individual differences in the initiation and maintenance of drug use.Drug addiction is a complex process involving the interplay between the pharmacology of a psychoactive drug, family and peer influences, personality, existing psychiatric disorders, the cost and availability of the drug, the influence of advertising, and other factors. . . .