Alcoholics to get addiction drug

A drug used to treat heroin addicts will be available to alcoholics

Alcoholics in the UK are to get access to a controversial drug treatment programme which aims to help them "unlearn" drinking habits.

The programme, developed over 25 years by US doctor David Sinclair, includes the drug naltrexone and one-to-one outpatient therapy.

Naltrexone is thought to block the pleasurable effects of drinking alcohol.

Dr Sinclair believes that, by taking the drug and continuing to drink, alcoholics will slowly unlearn their drinking habits.

He claims a success rate of 78% for his treatment programme, which has been tested in Finland and the USA, takes up to five months and costs at least £1,500.

But alcohol experts in the UK are sceptical, saying that Dr Sinclair's treatment needs more research.

They are also worried that naltrexone does not address other aspects of alcoholism, such as the reason why a person turns to drink in the first place.

The programme, which is launched in the UK on Tuesday, is only available from selected clinics run by the organisation ContrAl.

It is already being prescribed at ContrAl clinics in Cardiff and Bristol.

Two more clinics are due to open in London in the next few weeks.

The treatment will only be available on a named patient basis.

This is because naltrexone, marketed under a variety of brand names, is not licensed as a treatment for alcoholics in the UK, although it is available in at least 28 other countries.

It is, however, licensed for the treatment of opiate addicts.

And it is also being investigated for use against other addictions, such as binge eating.

Motivation

The drug works by blocking receptors in the brain that cause effects such as euphoria.

Experts say it has a low success rate for heroin users, mainly because people start using again as soon as they stop taking it.

They believe it is generally effective only in people who are strongly motivated to get off drugs.

Alcohol Concern says it is not against naltrexone being used by alcoholics, but it fears people will see it as a "miracle cure".

And it is worried that the ContAl approach allows people to continue drinking.

"It has to be used as part of an overall treatment programme, which would include detoxification and counselling," said a spokeswoman.

She added that it could suppress cravings for alcohol, but did not tackle other issues related to problem drinking, such as the reason a person drank.

The British Medical Association says alcohol abuse is a much more pervasive than drug addiction, but is not taken as seriously.

It estimates that 8% of UK men and 4% of women are problem drinkers.

This means they drink over recommended levels which are three to four units a day for men and two to three units a day for women

A unit is said to be equivalent to half a pint of standard-strength beer, one measure of spirits or one glass of wine.

The government is currently devising a national alcohol strategy, which is expected to be published next year.

BBC News ~ Tuesday, September 21