Alcoholism
Which Medications Could Help People with Alcohol…
The holidays are especially challenging for people who have trouble with alcohol. Celebrating with family can sometimes be stressful and trigger unhealthy coping patterns–potentially by more than on…
Naltrexone for Alcohol Problem: Will It Work?
Americans have an alcohol problem. Most people think alcohol abuse is someone else's problem. The guy on the street corner begging for money, perhaps. Not the upstanding citizen who drives a nice car …
Show 1296: Why the War on Drugs Failed and How H…
Our nationally syndicated radio show this week (initial broadcast 4/2/22) offers interviews with two guests who have thought deeply about addiction. In the US, this is a serious public health problem.…
Does Alcohol Get into Your Body After Using Hand…
COVID-19 changed how people wash their hands. For months it was hard to find alcohol-based (ethanol) hand sanitizers. That's because there was a run on such products. Then there were reports that quit…
Could Old Drug Offer New Hope for Problem Drinki…
An anesthetic approved nearly five decades ago continues to excite researchers. That’s because over the last several years ketamine has revealed new uses never imagined in 1970 when the drug was dev…
What Are the Pros and Cons of Drinking?
Doctors strongly debate the pros and cons of drinking. On the one hand, alcohol abuse causes enormous suffering both for the affected individuals and their families. On the other hand, for years resea…
Show 1152: Can You Conquer Your Cravings with Mi…
Have you ever thought about how a bad habit gets started? You can blame the neural wiring and chemistry we share with all animals. When we do something that feels good in the moment, we remember it an…
Why the Holidays Hold Hidden Medication Risks!
This is a dangerous time of the year for tens of millions of people. That’s because nondrinkers frequently find themselves in situations where they are expected to have a drink. It might be at a nei…
Is Too Much Alcohol Bad for the Brain?
The headlines have recently proclaimed that a little alcohol can improve longevity. The emphasis is on a little. Too much alcohol can increase the risk for cognitive decline. That's because there are …
Genetic Targeting Improves Treatment for Alcohol…
Genetic research may result in a new treatment for some alcoholics. Scientists at the University of Virginia have found that specific variations in a serotonin transporter gene can affect a person's s…
Naltrexone Cuts Urge to Drink
Q. I am a 62-year-old male emergency room nurse with a history of drinking 6 to 8 alcoholic drinks a day for the past 30 years or so. My drinking is confined to the hours between 5 and 10 PM. I drink …
753 Overcoming Alcohol Dependence
Alcoholism is notoriously hard to treat and the relapse rate is extremely high. But an old drug may be surprisingly effective in helping people overcome alcohol dependence. Naloxone and its cousin nal…
Prisoner Needs Anti-Alcohol Assistance
Q. What can you tell me about medication used to fight alcoholism? I am getting out of prison soon, and I need all the help I can get. My four kids need it just as much as I do. How would I get it and…
New Treatments for Alcoholism
Q. Now that Mel Gibson's alcohol problem is out in the open, perhaps there will be more discussion about treating alcoholism. Why don't rehab centers use naltrexone or acamprosate for this disease? On…
Common Weed Eases Alcohol Cravings
Q. Some time ago you had a letter from a woman who was drinking too much wine in the evening and wanted to cut back. You told her about a tea or an herbal concoction to diminish her desire to drink. S…