Vice Vaccines: A New Way to Boost Your Power

Link Info Week of Feb. 10, 2007; Vol. 171, No. 6, p. 90


Summary:



Many people suffer from a variety of addictive behaviors; unfortunately many of these behaviors are deadly such as over eating and drug abuse. Once they fall down the slippery slope of addiction, it is hard to turn around and climb back up.



This article begins in the realm of a smoker named Rachel who wants to quit. Her story is typical of many people in her situation. They know that their habit will kill them but no matter how hard they try they seem to revert back to that crutch. This is true of smokers, like Rachel, as well as in victims of obesity and illicit drug addictions; like addictions to cocaine and heroin.



Scientist decided to attempt to take a new approach to treatment of these deadly compulsions. Vaccines are nothing new to the scientific community. When some form of foreign bacteria or virus enters the system, a vaccine is administered to encourage the immune system to attack these invaders. The only reason that the immune system doesn't attack drugs like heroine and nicotine is that these drugs are tiny compared to infectious bacteria. The new vaccine aimed to target addictive behaviors acts in a similar way. Using a variety of molecules that range from a protein in cows blood to synthetically created proteins, they inject these vaccines into the bloodstream. The invading drugs piggyback onto the proteins. This greatly increases their size which then encourages the immune system to attack.



While creating vaccines that target invading drugs, finding a vaccine to encourage the immune system to stave off obesity is more complicated. Scientist narrowed the field of triggers for obesity down to a specific chemical called ghrelin. The vaccine, when injected, attempts to reduce and counteract the effects and production of ghrelin. All these vaccine are still in the clinical testing stages. Their results are showing promise.



While these vaccines would serve to encourage people to kick the habit, they would not be a miracle cure. The vaccines, which have been dubbed the "vice vaccines" would not create a hatred for the invading drugs; it would simply eliminate the high you receive from smoking or shooting up. But even this effect is not full-proof. The ability to get high is still available but it requires about five times the normal amount of the drug. One scientist points out that even if the vaccine doesn't eliminate the habit; it does make it very expensive to continue the behavior.



Results are promising. Obstacles are being over come. But just like every other sin n the world; no shot or hypnosis or other means can cure it without the will to be free.



Response: I found this article fascinating. Most of the articles I have read this year have convinced me of how ignorant we are of the wonders of the human body but this article was quite the opposite. It didn't ever speak of religion or faith but I hope that the great minds behind these vaccines have the greatest mind to guide them. It reminds me that we are born sinners. I know that the "vices" of this article are self-infused but their side-effects are pleasurable to us; something I believe that is ingrained in us from the Fall; we enjoy what we know is wrong and can ultimately kill us. I hope that these vaccines approach a promising future because they may not be a cure but I know they can help. My own family suffers from several addictions and anything that helps is beneficial. Another effect of the vaccines that wasn't mentioned in the article is the placebo effect. Even if the influence of the vaccine is minimal, the fact that you're getting a shot to cure your sin can be very effective mentally.