9781422272312

1 CHAPTER

Understanding Genetics

Anyone who is concerned about the dangers of nicotine or drug abuse needs to understand genetics. That’s because genetics can have a major impact on the likelihood that a person will smoke, chew tobacco, or use an electronic vaporizing device. And yet, few people understand how genetic factors can place nicotine users at a higher risk for addiction, as well as for various health problems. Genetics is the study of how traits such as hair color, eye color, and risk for disease are passed from parents to their children. These inherited traits can differ from person to person. Inherited traits or genes can impact a person’s day-to-day life in ways that they may not recognize or understand. For example, people who are overweight may find it harder to lose weight because of the genes and inherited traits that were passed to them from their parents. As a result, it is critical to take a look at these concepts to get a better idea of why children of smokers so often pick up the habit themselves, and why entire families of smokers aren’t uncommon. In later chapters, the concepts of genetic predisposition , and even genetic mutation, will be discussed in more depth, as these also impact a person’s risk of smoking and how difficult it may be for them to quit.

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