A drug to stop drinking?

by Nicole Weston, Posted Dec 27th 2006 @ 4:33PM

Aside from willpower and peer pressure, there are few things that can actually dissuade someone who really wants to drink from drinking. That's why AA has a 12-step program, not a 1-step one. But some scientists in Australia have just announced that they have a drug that may stop people from drinking. The compound blocks the production of a chemical called orexin that induces euphoria. So far, the compound has only been tested on rats, but it was remarkably successful in stopping the compulsion to drink alcohol in rats that had developed/were forced to develop an addition to it. In fact, they completely stopped drinking it when offered.

The theory is that the pleasurable effects of drinking, or the perceived pleasure that triggers the orexin system, are what drive the cravings and taking that away eliminates the reason for the craving to exist. Presumably, the drinker would still feel the effects of the alcohol, but there would no longer be any type of "high." Scientists also think that a similar treatment could be developed to treat other addictions, such as binge eating.

Obviously, it still has a long way to go before something like this will be available to the public, but it certainly sounds like it could help some people eliminate a step or two if they have a drinking problem.

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Filed Under: Science, Health & Medical, Drink Recipes
Tags: aa, alcohol, alcoholics, alcoholics anonymous, australia, beer, beers, cocktails, drinking, drinks, orexin, research, science, scientists, spirits, wine, wines

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-28-2006 @9:03AM mesothelioma said... BigPharma has been searching for an effective treatment for alcoholism for years. Arguably, it comes from the same social impetus that encourages us to take pills to solve all our problems (e.g. the success of antidepressants, on-going search for "smart drugs" and weight-loss pills).
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12-28-2006 @2:10PM calamari said... Some problems are best solved by pills: not all forms of depression yield to talk therapy, and many other mental disorders are so hard-wired that will-power and positive thinking make no difference.

Is there over-prescribing to "treat" behavior that was previously considered halfway normal? Probably. But when it comes to serious mental illness (get a look at this site: http://www.crazymeds.org/ ), pills start looking like an answer.
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1-03-2007 @7:34PM tulay patel said... I drink a lot of beer and l know l have to stop.Please give me a drug name will help me to stop drinking beer.
Thanks
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1-06-2007 @10:50PM Kevin said... I don't know if I believe there is a medical cure for the alcoholic... But hey, if it's possible great... I quit drinking on my own, and believe no one will get sober unless they decide not to drink today...

and make the same effort when tomorrow rolls around!
http://www.DontDrinkToday.blogspot.com

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