Alan I. Leshner

About the author: Alan I. Leshner is the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Nicotine, an active ingredient in tobacco, is extremely addictive. It operates by elevating levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, a pleasure-inducing brain chemical. Although various nicotinereplacement therapies and some medications can successfully treat nicotine addiction, most smokers still have difficulty quitting. The public health community must continue to address the problem of cigarette smoking by combining pharmacological treatments with behavioral therapies, by identifying risk factors for drug addiction, and by increasing preventative efforts.

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I am pleased to be here with my distinguished colleagues to discuss current research findings and future...