July 27, 1998

Dear Colleague:

On behalf of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), welcome to Addicted to Nicotine: A National Research Forum. I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our partner, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, for their generous support in planning and conducting this important event. I would also like to acknowledge the assistance of our cosponsors, the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, and the Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This research forum comes at a time of particular opportunity to improve our nation's health. Scientific advances over the past 20 years have shown that nicotine addiction is chronic, often relapsing, and treatable. Research has shown that biological, behavioral, and social factors must all be considered in implementing effective treatment and prevention strategies. This research forum will highlight state-of-the-art neurobiological, behavioral, cognitive, and prevention findings emerging from more than two decades of research. Specifically, this fonun will enhance awareness and increase knowledge of nicotine addiction and its role in initiating and maintaining tobacco use including:

• The role of genetic, biological, behavioral, and sociocultural risk and protective factors

• The role of economic factors, advertising, and case of access in initiating tobacco use

• Breakthroughs in the neurobiology of nicotine addiction

• Current issues in the treatment of nicotine addiction

• The role of behavioral and pharmacological treatment approaches

Drug addiction research should not only be useful, it should be used. I hope this forum provides helpful information and strategies that can be applied to our continued efforts to prevent and treat nicotine addiction in the United States.

Sincerely,

Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D.
Director