Using a Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacogenetic Approach to Examine Nicotine Addiction

In the medical field, one the most prevalent beliefs is that the potency of a drug is the primary factor in its addictive capacity. However, this belief does not always account for pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenetic processes and how they also influence the addictive qualities of drugs. Because nicotine is a highly addictive substance and prominent issue in our society, I sought to use a pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenetic approach to examine its addictive capacity. Specifically, I studied how each mode of administration affects the level and processes of addiction, and how specific genetic characteristics affect how nicotine is processed at a micro level – which in turn indicates which demographics are disproportionately vulnerable to nicotine addiction. My results will help indicate which modes of administration are most addictive. They will also indicate what specific characteristics in certain demographics make these drugs more or less addictive. These results could thus be used to enhance and tailor existing treatments for drug addiction for individuals with varying genetic makeup, in addition to distinguishing pathways based on modes of administration.