Recent development of selective partial agonists of α4β2 nAChRs as effective smoking-cessation agents further supports the role of α4β2 nAChRs in ND. For example, the partial α4β2 nAChR agonist vareniclinie was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as an aid to smoking cessation. It produces significantly higher quit rates (2–3×) than do other treatments.44 Vareniclinie can selectively decrease ethanol consumption and seeking in animals, implying it may be valuable also for the treatment of alcoholism.45
