The preface to this comprehensive collection succinctly describes its content - "this book provides detailed overviews of the basic neuroscience relevant to medications development for nicotine, a review of current medications (both approved for this indication and available medications that have been used off-label to treat nicotine addiction), and an overview of the new medications and medication classes that are in development, along with new biological approaches (e.g., pharmocogenetcis and neuroimagaing) that could help define subtypes of smokers who may respond selectively to certain agents." To this end, the contributions by world-renowned scientists in the fields of pharmacology, addiction, harm reduction, clinical research, immunology, and genetics, among others, have been assembled. The specific target audiences are clinical investigators, students from a wide range of academic disciplines, and individuals who work with smokers to assist them in quitting. One group not mentioned is researchers who monitor data on smoking prevalence and smoking cessation, the use of cessation therapies, and their costs and availability. The information in this volume provides some background material about what and how to measure cessation in the general population as well as among specific subgroups.

The five sections lead the reader through summaries of basic science, first-line medical treatments, second-line medical treatments, novel medical treatments, and special topics. Included in the first section is information on the basic pharmacology and physiology of nicotine use and addiction, as well as information on how animal models may provide understanding that can be used in the development of therapies for smokers. Following this section are summaries of the approved medications for nicotine dependence including the nicotine replacement therapies and bupropion. The discussion of second line treatments includes tricyclic antidepressants, among others. The section that follows reviews research on some promising medications that are being developed such as cannabinoid receptor antagonists and a nicotine vaccine. There is a lot of information here that may foster new research in this field.

The organization, readability, and careful attention to established and emerging treatment modalities greatly enhance the usability of the book for those who are not involved in basic tobacco cessation research. The book will have wide appeal, not only as a summary for those conducting clinical research in the area of tobacco cessation, but also for those who wish to incorporate the latest cessation research into programs and policy development. For one of the reviewers who is not trained in basic science, it was a delight that the material was presented in an easily understandable and relevant manner.

The sections on combining medication with behavioral treatments, use of treatments in smokers with psychiatric disorders (groups with typically high smoking prevalence), and the interrelationship of genetics and nicotine dependence treatments all provide the reader with innovative methods to address this major public health issue, including how to improve on the modest success rates achieved to date in efforts to treat nicotine dependence and the accompanying morbidities and mortality of tobacco use.

The final two chapters offer suggestions for future research and propose an interesting approach to the treatment of tobacco dependence that combines several of the innovative approaches in ways that integrate genetic and imagining approaches and attempt to match smokers with treatments and reduce the intensity of withdrawal that so often lead to failure.

Given that this is an evolving field, with new products coming on the market continuously (e.g., varenicline), we are looking forward to Volume 2.

About the Authors: Linda Pederson is a Senior Service Fellow in the Office on Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her research interests include the epidemiology of tobacco use and initiation, and the impact of media messages on tobacco use and population's knowledge of, attitudes about, and use of new tobacco products including smokeless tobacco and PREPS.
Patricia Richter is Toxicologist in the Office on Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her research interests include environmental toxicology, tobacco toxicology, and the chemistry and toxicology of tobacco products. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology.