Mayo promotes tobacco-free living
The Mayo Clinic has opened a new Center for Tobacco-Free Living.
The center features interactive media and exhibits that display the addictive power of nicotine. One exhibit features zebra fish addicted to nicotine.
Doctor Richard Hurt directs the center. He said zebra fish share some of the same genes as humans.
"So zebra fish can be sensitized to nicotine just like people can be. And if we figure out what the genetics of that are, then we might be able to find a medication that would alter the sensitization process," Hurt said.
The Mayo Clinic's nicotine addiction programs include residential treatment. The new center is on the same floor as the Clinic's pulmonary medicine department.
Doctor Hurt said it's designed to be as encouraging and positive as possible so more people use the clinic's addicton programs.
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