“…Varenicline is an a4b2 partial agonist that was specifically developed to aide cessation by reducing the effects of nicotine withdrawal while also temporarily reducing the reinforcing effects of nicotine through stimulation of the dopaminergic reward pathway. In clinical trials, it significantly increased abstinence rates compared with placebo, bupropion, and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT; Cahill,Hokanson, Stotts, & Schmitz, 2007;Schmitz, Stotts, Mooney, Delaune, & Moeller, 2007;Shiffman, Sweeney, Ferguson, Sembower, & Gitchell, 2008;Swan, Javitz, Jack, Curry, & McAfee, 2004). Because patient adherence to smoking cessation medications can impact their effectiveness, it is important to understand the extent to which all prescribed cessation medications are actually taken by smokers and how this influences smoking cessation outcomes.…”