Most recently, the Federal Drug Administration approved varenicline as a medication for smoking cessation. Varenicline acts on a subset of nicotinic receptors (alpha-4 beta-2) thought to be involved in the rewarding effects of nicotine. Varenicline acts as a partial agonist and antagonist at these receptors as it mildly stimulates the nicotine receptor, but not sufficiently to allow the release of dopamine, which is the rewarding effect of nicotine. As an antagonist, varenicline also blocks the ability of nicotine to activate dopamine, interfering with the reinforcing effects of smoking, thereby reducing cravings and supporting abstinence from smoking.

Treatment Gap

The treatment gap is massive among those who need treatment for a substance use disorder and do not receive it. In 2007, 23.2 million people aged 12 or older required treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem, but only 3.9 million received treatment at a specialty substance abuse facility. Reducing this gap requires a multipronged approach. Strategies include increasing access to effective treatment, achieving insurance parity, and reducing stigmas and raising awareness among both patients and health care professionals.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen agents prevent sunburn. Limiting exposure to the sun and using sun block and sunscreen when in the sun may help prevent early wrinkling and skin cancer. There are two kinds of sunscreen agents: chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreen agents protect the skin from the sun by absorbing the ultraviolet (UV) and visible sunrays, while physical sunscreen agents reflect, scatter, absorb or block these rays. Sunscreen agents often contain more than one ingredient. For example, products may contain one ingredient, which provides protection against Ultraviolet A (UVA) sunrays, and another ingredient that protects the skin from the Ultraviolet B (UVB) sunrays, which are more likely to cause sunburn than the UVA rays. Ideally, sunscreen coverage should include protection against both UVA and UVB sunrays. The sun protection factor (SPF) found on the label of these products indicates the minimum amount of UVB sunlight the product protects from. It compares the redness associated with protected versus unprotected skin. Sunscreen products with high SPFs provide more protection against the sun.