NIDA Notes Articles: Smoking

Smokers Who Quit May Have Genetic Advantage

November 2009
Describes research providing evidence that genes may influence how successful a person is in quitting smoking and which cessation technique may work best for them.

Substance Abuse Among Troops, Veterans, and Their Families

November 2009

Highlights the need for research to assess and find solutions to a potential rise in substance abuse among service men and women, veterans, and their families.

Sensory Aspects of Smoking May Counter Bad Mood, Craving

October 2009
Describes study findings revealing that the act of smoking, apart from actual or expected nicotine delivery, may soothe a smoker's negative mood.

Abstinent Smokers' Nicotinic Receptors Take More Than a Month to Normalize

October 2009
Describes research revealing that for up to 6 weeks after smokers quit, their brain cells have more nicotine-binding receptors than nonsmokers, which may explain the struggle to quit.