Smoking Vaccine Being Developed

Ivanhoe Newswire

(Ivanhoe Newswire) For smokers who are having trouble kicking the habit, science is working to find help. Although its still in the very early development stage, research on an antinicotine vaccine is in preliminary trials.

 The vaccine stimulates the immune system to develop antinicotine antibodies. Another possibility involves using an individuals genetic profile to tailor a treatment specific to them.

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Right now in the United States 70 percent of those who smoke say they want to quit. 45 percent try and only 5 percent succeed. Relapse is also common. These numbers underline the severity of nicotines addictive properties.

Dr. Dorothy Hatsukami of the Tobacco Use Research Center of the University of Minnesota and colleagues took part in a Seminar. They are looking at the effectiveness of current treatments like counseling, problem solving, coping and motivational skills and a wide range of nicotine replacement therapies.

Researchers say nicotine replacement therapies can increase quit rates two to three fold. The quit success rates are also good for those who combine treatments, like using both a nicotine patch and nicotine gum.

They went on to say that there is limited benefit from cutting down. Those who try tend to inhale more deeply which doesnt substantially decrease the toxic effect.

While the solutions are pursued, the authors wrote, Nicotine or tobacco addiction should be treated as a chronic disorder. Treatment can need persistent efforts to try to assist tobacco users in their attempts at quitting. Relapse should be seen as a probable event.

Worldwide, 1.2 billion people smoke and half of them will die of tobacco related diseases. The doctors conclude the international medical community should make treating tobacco dependence a high priority in their practices and lobby their governments to implement the guidelines of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

SOURCE: The Lancet, June 14, 2008

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