Interindividual variation in the ability to quit smoking in adolescence may be related, in part, to pharmacogenetics. Genetic variation in CYP2A6 is associated with the ability to quit smoking among adults [2]. CYP2A6 plays a major role in the inactivation of nicotine to cotinine, and the conversion of cotinine to 3′-hydroxycotinine [3]. Slow nicotine metabolism, measured by CYP2A6 genotype or the nicotine metabolite ratio (3′-hydroxycotinine to cotinine ratio), is associated in adults with higher spontaneous quit rates as well as increased quitting on placebo and the nicotine patch [2].
