Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods
Published on: August 4, 2022
Opioid antagonists and alcoholism treatment
1Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, VA Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA.
Abstract:
The increasing evidence for a neurobiologic basis for alcoholism has spurred the search for pharmacologic agents to treat alcohol abuse. The complex set of symptoms and behaviors that characterizes alcoholism has been linked to dopaminergic and opioid neurotransmitter systems, suggesting that opioid antagonists, such as naltrexone, may alter the positive reinforcement effects and craving involved in alcoholism. Laboratory and clinical investigations of naltrexone have demonstrated the potential for this agent to reduce craving, increase the aversive effects of alcohol, decrease drinking days, and increase abstinence. While naltrexone and other opioid antagonists, such as nalmefene, may be effective components of an alcohol-treatment program, they should only be used in combination with psychosocial interventions, such as support groups and psychotherapy.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Depressants
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Drug-Receptor Interaction: Antagonist
Antagonists can be classified as competitive or noncompetitive based on their...
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies
Opioid Receptors: Overview

