This is very close to the layman's explanation of how Chantix works. That drug supposedly shuts down the nicotine receptors in the brain. That way, no pleasure results from inhaling smoke or absorbing nicotine. Pleasure comes from nicotine triggering the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine and seratonin.
Ah, but ... with feel-good hormones held at bay, nothing gives pleasure. Not sex. Not food. Not entertainment. Nothing. Life is a blur on Chantix. I hated my two months on Chantix.
This kind of study result could also lead to a kind of "smoker's labotomy" procedure coming into use. A cut here, a cut there, and the smoker is "fixed" for life. Lower
insurance, no smoke breaks, better employee. Now, this is scary thinking, for sure.
Zombies rule, if this happens.