Tobacco addiction is increasingly occurring in the modern population and is a major public health problem. It is estimated that 15% of the world is addicted to tobacco, and this percentage will only grow with an accelerated lifestyle. In Croatia, 36,45% of the population actively consumes tobacco, and it is estimated that about 10.000 people die from the effects of smoking annually. The pathophysiological mechanism of tobacco dependence is heterogeneous, with nicotine playing the most important role. Through specific neuroreceptors nicotine stimulates the central nervous system to secrete primarily dopamine, thus creating a sense of comfort. Its effect on the ventral tegmental area is as such that it alters the physiological processes in the central nervous system itself. With certain drugs we try to reduce the effects of nicotine on the body and mitigate the symptoms of withdrawal. In clinical practice, nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline, bupropion, nortriptyline and clonidine are currently used as main treatment modalities. Due to its simple use and low incidence of side effects, nicotine replacement therapy is currently most widely used. As the number of smokers increases worldwide, there is an increasing interest in producing more effective drugs to help combat tobacco addiction.