For thousands of years, there have been alcoholics. Evidence shows that humans created alcoholic drinks as far back as 10,000 years.
One of the earliest drugs used by mankind, it’s abuse admonished by philosophers and clergy alike.
Solving alcoholism has occurred in many forms throughout history. Before any definitive cures existed, shame and abstinence were the only options people used. Later, taxation on alcohol or prohibitions attempted to prevent its abuse. More recently, groups like Alcoholics Anonymous have had good success.
There are few pharmaceuticals that work effectively to curb alcoholism. The US Food and Drug Administration only has 4 currently on their list that they approve. Professor Lara Ray, the study’s lead author, hopes that this new drug will become a more effective cure.
Ray is a Professor of Psychology and is the Director of the UCLA Addictions Laboratory.
Her study was about the anti-inflammatory drug Ibudilast, which the Japanese have used successfully to treat asthma. So what is the connection between asthma and being an alcoholic?
Asthma causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Excess alcohol consumption inflames the brain. It is this inflammation that can lead to deadly health conditions when an alcoholic tries to stop drinking suddenly. The deadly damage to the liver, heart, and pancreas are well known.
However, when an alcoholic’s brain becomes deprived of alcohol, their brain suffers uncontrolled synapse firing. This can lead to life-threatening seizures or deadly delirium tremens, in the worse cases. Frighteningly, sudden withdrawal from alcohol, when you are an alcoholic, can be fatal.