February 14, 2023 – A drug used to treat individuals with severe alcohol use disorders could also help others combat binge drinking, based on a study.
The drug naltrexone blocks endorphins and reduces the sentiments of delight that include drinking. It has been approved for 3 many years to treat individuals with alcohol dependence and is frequently given each day to patients with more severe alcohol use disorders to assist them select to not drink. The New York Times reported.
Binge drinking is defined as greater than 4 drinks for men and greater than three drinks for ladies in a single sitting. According to the federal government, nearly half of all American drinkers report binge drinking prior to now month. Although only a small percentage of binge drinkers turn into hooked on alcohol, alcohol can still cause illness and injury and may result in a worse problem.
The study was published in December in American Journal of PsychiatryThe study involved 120 men, half of whom got a placebo and half got naltrexone, which they were told to take before they planned to drink heavily or once they felt a craving. They also received counseling over a 12-week period to assist them reduce their alcohol consumption.
People given the drug reported less binge drinking and lower alcohol consumption than people given a placebo.
The same protocol is “widely adopted” in Europe, the Times reported.
The study results could help be sure that treatment is provided before addiction develops – even in “far more people than the study participants,” based on the paper, corresponding to those with mild or moderate alcohol use disorders.
“If we address the medical problem promptly and early, we can not only treat it but also prevent the development of more severe forms of the disease,” said Dr. Lorenzo Leggio of the National Institutes of Health.