ABSTRACT
An overview of recent advances in nicotine-based treatments is provided, with a focus on interventions that, broadly speaking, either substitute for or antagonize nicotine inhaled from cigarettes. These treatments include nicotine replacement techniques and the use of nicotinic receptor antagonists. The potential use of denicotinized cigarettes as a behavioral extinction tool is also described. The rationale for initiating treatments before the target quit-smoking date — to diminish dependence on cigarettes before attempting to quit smoking — is considered. Findings pertaining to novel pharmaceuticals in current development, including nicotine vaccines and partial nicotinic receptor agonists, are also summarized. Finally, we will briefly highlight some of the possible biobehavioral predictors of treatment outcome, which may allow for individualizing treatment to a given smoker’s needs.
