Among adults, slow nicotine metabolizers have higher quit rates on the nicotine patch relative to normal nicotine metabolizers, while bupropion may be more useful for faster metabolizers than slower metabolizers [2]. If these findings extend to younger populations, there may be utility in tailoring smoking cessation treatments based on nicotine metabolism rate in adolescent smokers. For example, the nicotine patch, which is safe and effective in adolescent smokers [10], may be a more effective treatment for adolescent slow nicotine metabolizers.
