Scientists find a possible effective solution for curing Alcoholism
In the News
This would be amazing if it works on humans
An injection into the brain could reduce the amount alcoholics drink by 90 per cent
Only tested on Monkeys as yet it seems to work
The therapy is currently used to treat Parkinson’s
Lets hope this works , to eradicate this disease of the brain would be the achievement of the century , removing a massive strain on the NHS, reducing crime and helping families that alcohol is destroying amongst other things
www.stuff.co.nz/world/300950096/brain-jab-offers-new-hope-for-alcoholics
This is very interesting, i wonder how it works and more importantly if people would be willing to take it.
It sounds fascinating but sadly makes alcohol addiction sound the same as curing a headache. People are alcoholics vastly due to factors like low self worth, poor emotional resistance and trauma. So what will happen when they're no longer using alcohol? Surely they will just find another unhealthy release as all the original problems still exist.
Midnightflower Thats true M, many would like to kick the habit but in some cases the urge is stronger than some other addictive drugs , at least this would give them a fighting chance
telmel anything that can help is obviously amazing, but I find the whole thing bizarre as it completely ignores the cause of the addiction which is then likely to result in another addiction forming as the original cause still exists.
Midnightflower I know in some cases there is no actual cause M, some people start drinking at a young age and just cannot stop or control the volume they are taking, leading to alcoholism
It is an abnormality in the brain causing this which this trial hopes to readjust
But you are right, sometimes there might be a catalyst such as a trauma early on in someones life that might trigger it also
TheChimp I'm sure there's plenty of alcoholics who wouldn't mind being test subjects, but they'd want at least some kind of a cash reward for being a guinea pig.
PhilipMarc The mad scientist is at it again. I can't imagine any alcoholic with a drop of senses or high self esteem would agree to go through with this. But the money might come in handy to buy some more alcohol!
My ex was an alcoholic but wouldn't accept that he was, filling squash/water bottles with vodka and hiding them all around the house, still never believing he needed help when he was put on disciplinary action at work, lying always, sneaking out to he's car for a swig. l offered help but to no avail, the verbal emotional bullying was not good for my mental health.
Pinkspirit So sorry to hear that P, this research could possibly help him , but he would need to want to have it , it cannot be forced on anyone
telmel thanks for your kind words, but he never accepted that he had a drink problem hence never wanting any help. I'm no longer with him but it took seven years for me to walk away with nothing, frustration & anger have been replaced with pity for him, l did try so much to help him tho
Unfortunately I know an alcoholic and the first problem is admitting they have a problem, the second problem is them actually wanting help. Then finally getting help. I am just at the start of stage two with the person i know. If anyone has any advice, greatly appreciated.
eyeballkerry I'm an alcoholic (I don't drink anymore but I'll always be an alcoholic) and honestly based on my personal experience... rehab is the best thing, they need to change a hell of a lot (people who they associate with) but I relapsed 5 times after detox....
6 months in rehab and a big change in who I have around me had worked so far.
3 years dry 
eyeballkerry another thing, alcohol is extremely difficult to stop because its a socially acceptable drug and always there, Christmas, birthdays, funerals, bad day, good day, it's sunny, football, just going shop and it's in your face so yeah it's really really hard.... but if you're a true friend to the person with the problem, don't give up on them.
They may stumble or fall on their journey, it could take years as it did with me, but having a true friend there even if its just a shoulder to cry on is one of the things that lights the end of the very dark scary tunnel.
Never give up hope 
(I sound like a bloody councilor)
johnp81 I don’t want to sound patronising, but well done to you. That sounds like a long hard journey for you and hopefully you stay on the road to recovery.
johnp81 The situation is not easy. Unfortunately the person is not a social drink but drinks alone which is very sad. They are also up in court for a drink driving offence.
eyeballkerry the drink driving could be a blessing in disguise....
Could get a rehab at his majesty's pleasure rather than waiting for the drug and alcohol services to go through their process
eyeballkerry thank you and it was and still is difficult but I just take it 1 day at a time
eyeballkerry it doesn't take a miracle, all it takes is the right mindset, strength, determination and the willingness to accept change.
Any addict can do it as long as its what they really want
Did they have to turn the monkeys into alcoholics first???
That's pretty dam messed-up if you ask me
Alcoholism isn't a disease of the brain. It is an addiction, and people become addicted to any subtance they use in order to deal with some other problem. To be an addict requires a pattern of repeated behaviour, and it is a choice to continue this behaviour until a physical dependence is established. It takes effort and determination to develop an addiction, so to break the cycle requires the addict to decide to do so, and needs medical help to treat the physical effects as the body withdraws. Mentally there has to be something to change the person's thinking so they don't revert to another substance, or behaviour. It is far more complex than saying it's a brain disease that can be cured with an injection. Unless mental health services are available, as well as physical, it's highly unlikely that the addictive behaviour will stop. According to the article, the injection will allow dopamine production so alcohol is not used to raise the mood. That doen't do anything to help with the underlying issues. My ex, the father of my children, died from his alcoholism. He was always a drinker but increased his intake when he became depressed. Even if he had been injected with this drug the cause of his depression would still have been there. It's hugely more complicated than the article suggests, epecially as alcoholics drink to remove their consciousness of the reality that is disturbing them, not to become happy. Monkeys that have been turned into alcoholics don't have the complexity of humans, so the claim of the trial is true for monkeys, not people with problems and other underlying mental health conditions.
Wait we have enough alcoholic monkeys to test this on?!? But hey if it works then that's great and if it helps the other things mentioned then even better
This would be great. Maybe my neighbors would stop been such attention seeking idiots. Hopefully!
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