Pill Could Help Smokers, Heavy Drinkers Cut Back

Varenicline works by latching onto the same receptors in the brain that nicotine binds to when cigarette smoke is inhaled. Pfizer developed the drug as a stop-smoking aid and has sold it in the US since August under the name Chantix.

A single pill appears to hold promise in curbing the urges to both smoke and drink, according to researchers trying to help people overcome addiction by targeting a pleasure center in the brain.

The drug is already sold to help smokers kick the habit. New but preliminary research suggests it could gain a second use in helping heavy drinkers quit, too.

Read the full article