Beyond its potential value in helping obese individuals lose weight and smokers kick the cigarette habit, researchers increasingly believe Acomplia may be able to play a role in treating alcoholism and drug abuse.

Acomplia (rimonabant) is the first in a new class called cannabinoid receptor blockers. Researchers are not sure exactly how it works, but it appears to trick the brain into ignoring the pleasures of smoking, overeating -- and possibly other pleasure-inducing activities as well.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, which conducted an animal study of rimonabant in 2001, currently is conducting a Phase II study exploring whether Acomplia may be useful in treating heavy drinkers.

And researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse are pursuing follow-up research aimed at determining if the drug may be useful in treating marijuana dependence.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported in 2001 that a single dose of Acomplia could block the effects of smoked marijuana in people as well as animals.

Other researchers believe that Acomplia may be helpful in treating cocaine abuse.

"I think it's going to have a big impact on the treatment of addiction," Dr. Charles O'Brien, an addiction expert at the University of Pennsylvania, told reporters.

After Acomplia is approved for treating obesity or smoking, "we'll be free to study it in these other areas, and I'll try to get my hands on it as quickly as possible," O'Brien said.