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 naltrexone have been available for decades. They are usually thought of as drugs to counteract a heroin overdose or reverse an excessive amount of opioid narcotic. But naltrexone has also been approved for treating alcoholism. What is the best way to use it, and can it help against other addictions? We get two perspectives on its effectiveness.
Guests: Roy Eskapa, PhD, is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He is the author of The Cure for Alcoholism; Drink Your Way Sober Without Willpower, Abstinence or Discomfort.
Henry R. Kranzler, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Associate Scientific Director of the Alcohol Research Center, and Assistant Dean for Clinical Research at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington, Connecticut.
