{"id":4210,"date":"2018-03-07T15:25:38","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T20:25:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cdc.gov\/genomics\/?p=4210"},"modified":"2024-04-09T09:51:40","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T13:51:40","slug":"dear-john","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdc.gov\/genomics\/2018\/03\/07\/dear-john\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear John, There\u2019s no point in waiting any longer. Let\u2019s call it quits\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"a<\/a>In 1999, Dr. Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project, provided a bold vision for what the practice of genomic medicine might soon look like. Collins described<\/a> the case of a hypothetical man named \u201cJohn,\u201d a 23 year-old smoker living a decade into the future in 2010. \u201cHis substantial risk of contracting lung cancer provides the key motivation for him to join a support group of persons<\/p>\n

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\u2026genomics would, in the not too distant future, move beyond basic research and become a real tool to save millions of lives.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

at genetically high risk for serious complications of smoking, and he successfully kicks the habit.\u201d Through the example of smoking, the point was made that genomics would, in the not too distant future, move beyond basic research and become a real tool to save millions of lives. Worldwide, tobacco use, was (and is) the leading cause of preventable death<\/a>. In the U.S. alone, 46.5 million<\/a> (23.5%) adults were smokers in 1999. Despite the problem\u2019s magnitude, however, many scientists and public health practitioners were skeptical that an investment in genomics could ever pay off.<\/p>\n

In 2012, two years after John\u2019s story was to play out, we reviewed the state of the science for genomics and smoking cessation in our blog, Smoke Screen<\/a>. We reported that, despite progress, there were still no validated genetic tests ready to address the problem of smoking, and that no one should use a genetic test result or family history as a reason not to quit. However, there had been some progress in genomics research in three main areas: understanding molecular mechanisms of smoking-related diseases, using genetic susceptibility to begin to identify higher risk groups of smokers, and tailoring smoking-cessation programs to individuals. Meanwhile, many Americans needed no genetic test to stop smoking. In 2012, the number of smokers had declined to 42.1 million<\/a> (18.1%) U.S. adults.<\/p>\n

\"Tips<\/a><\/strong>So where are we in 2018?<\/h3>\n

In January of this year, CDC released the latest data revealing that in 2016 almost 38 million<\/a> (15.5%) U.S. adults were current cigarette smokers. The new numbers demonstrated further public health success – but also that room for substantial improvement remains. Meanwhile, \u00a0research continues into how to reduce tobacco use and risk. With our regularly updated and searchable Public Health Genomics Knowledge Base (PHGKB)<\/a>, we try to stay on top of the developments in the field of genomics and smoking cessation. While we still don\u2019t have a scientific breakthrough, several recent articles regarding genomics and smoking are noteworthy.<\/p>\n