Brain receptors linked to risk of smoking relapse

Difficulties smokers face when quitting may be due to how many “mu opioid” receptors they have in their brain. This is the first time researchers have identified a mechanism that explains why people with a particular genetic background may be more prone to relapse when they try to quit smoking. The discovery could lead to the development of new treatments that target these receptors and help smokers increase their chances of success when they try to quit.