Tobacco and Nicotine Dependence Vulnerability as a Function of Dopaminergic Dysregulation: Proposing a Novel Strategy to Promote Neurotransmitter Homeostasis.

Key points • Individuals with depression and other mental illnesses are more likely to smoke cigarettes. • Cigarette smoking addictions can be combatted by approved therapies like nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, nasal spray, and inhalers. • Vaping has been proposed as a harm-reducing treatment for adult cigarette smokers, but evidence remains mixed. • Varenicline (Chantix) is a leading first-line therapy for cigarette smoking or nicotine vaping, via dopaminergic modulation.