Nicotine Vaccine

jambolaya writes "BBC News have a story about a new "vaccine" for nicotine addiction. It works by preventing nicotine from reaching the brain and hence it has no effect (on the brain, i.e. no buzz). Great news for those of us with the will and conviction of a damp flannel."

I don't get it

[Daffy Duck]

Is this vaccine to prevent people from getting addicted to nicotine or to help those already addicted to nicotine? Because I don't see how this will help those already addicted by preventing nicotine molecules from getting to the brain. You can do that right now by just not lighting up. If you're addicted and the vaccine makes nicotine less deliverable, won't you just smoke more to satisfy your craving?

I don't get it either, my guess, though...

[boarder]

I was thinking exactly the same thing. I even read the article in case I missed the point. I am not a biologist or medically knowledgable past basic science, so maybe I did miss something. Maybe there's some biochemical process in addiction that this is ACTUALLY referring to and not just stopping the nicotine from entering the brain. Perhaps there is a part of the brain that feeds off the nicotine and a part of the brain that continues the addiction. This vaccine might allow the nicotine to work into the blood system and to the addicted areas, but not into the section of the brain that actually "creates" the addiction.

This is all just pseudo-science and conjecture on my part, but it's the only way I can justify this vaccine. The other way is that maybe the physical addiction is in another part of the body to which the blood stream delivers the nicotine, but the CAUSE of that addiction is in the brain.

Re:I don't get it

[JanneM]

Well if no nicotine reaches the brain (and the article never said that it only reduces the level), it doesn't matter _how_ much you smoke or snuff, you'll have no choice but to go through the withdrawal. If the vaccine is reasonably long-lasting (upwards of a year or more), having sudden relapses at the pub or at parties won't do anything for you either, severing the behavioral connection between chemical bliss and holding a damp cardboard tube in your mouth.

If it is effective (i.e. stops _any_ nicotine from reaching the brain), this could be a very good thing.

/Janne

What they're really hoping...

[Syre]

What they're really hoping is probably that it will keep non-addicted people from getting any pleasure from the drug.

This would then lead to a new series of "drug vaccinations" for every baby born, immunizing them against nicotine, heroin, cocaine, etc. etc.

Then, the side effects will start coming out, as the immune systems of these immunized people start attacking the native neurohormones in their own bodies which these drugs mimic.

This will lead to all kinds of neurological complications, like people incapable of experiencing any pleasure, people for whom every sensation is painful, etc. etc.

I have three words for prospective recipients of these vaccines: "Just say no!".

Vaccine

[The Killswitch]

maybe those who are already smoking will find it easier to stop. They will be forced to stop, i see it like this. If the nicotine can,t proceed to the brain, smoking, nicotine patches won't help anyway so the smoker will stop. Same thing for non-smokers, they will not get any feel from smoking, so no addiction for them.