A cure for alcoholism?

[Cherry Cola]

Alcoholism isn't a disease, it is an addiction.

I hate it when people say that it's a disease.

Wasn't there a whole South Park episode about people calling it a disease?

Why won't people learn from TV!?

 

[Fritzvalt]

This sounds similar to an SSRI, which can have some really nasty side affects. I have instant dislike.

 

[The Austin]

Alcoholism isn't a disease, it is an addiction.

I hate it when people say that it's a disease.

Wasn't there a whole South Park episode about people calling it a disease?

Why won't people learn from TV!?

Yes, there most certainly was.

.....And I don't know. Everything on TV is a pretty good idea. EVERYTHING.

 

[Xanadu84]

Damn, that was a bit TL;DR.

But 15% of drinkers? That's a bit low to be a valid course of treatment. I suppose it could help a few people, though.

From what ive heard, its a bit high: I always thought that the recidivism rate was more along the lines of 95%. Of course, this also includes state mandated Alcohol programs, which are basically BS.

Awesome for the drug. People of course will say, "Just stop drinking" Thanks for the help there. Lets assume for a second that yes, there is absolutely no factor at work here except personal accountability, and just stopping drinking is feasible, and these people are just weak. You succeeded is helping absolutely no one. Meanwhile, this drug saved a bunch of these weak peoples lives and livelihood. Gonna have to go with the drug on this one.

 

[Soxafloppin]

I think the best cure is to realise that no one wants to have sex with an alco.

 

[funguy2121]

Reminded me of that TinTin story where Professor Calculus helps Captain Haddock overcome his heavy drinking habits by slipping him a bitter tasting drug that makes alcohol unpalatable.

...

what no one read The Adventures of TinTin when they were growing up?.

OT:

*snip*

You don't mean Nitroxoline do you?. That's an antibacterial drug usually used in the treatment of E.coli strains. As far as I can work out though it sounds like the drug you are after is the chemical called Bridion (sugammadex).

Any road, it sounds interesting but the best cure is to not become an alcoholic in the first place.

Agreed, though that doesn't help people who already are.

 

[funguy2121]

Alcoholism isn't a disease, it is an addiction.

I hate it when people say that it's a disease.

Wasn't there a whole South Park episode about people calling it a disease?

Why won't people learn from TV!?

The best South Park ever was the one where they hired a homeless guy to pretend to be Stan from the future after he got strung out. There was a poster in the background that juxtaposed the burning world trade center towers with a pot leaf and said "harmless???"

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Reminded me of that TinTin story where Professor Calculus helps Captain Haddock overcome his heavy drinking habits by slipping him a bitter tasting drug that makes alcohol unpalatable.

...

what no one read The Adventures of TinTin when they were growing up?.

OT:

*snip*

You don't mean Nitroxoline do you?. That's an antibacterial drug usually used in the treatment of E.coli strains. As far as I can work out though it sounds like the drug you are after is the chemical called Bridion (sugammadex).

Any road, it sounds interesting but the best cure is to not become an alcoholic in the first place.

Agreed, though that doesn't help people who already are.

Neither would this chemical or drug. Damage control isn't a better option when prevention is possible. Besides I am not one for accepting that humanity is a slave to genetic predisposition.

 

[SmartIdiot]

Interesting, I know a ton of people this would benefit.

I think a good cure would be to stop drinking.

You're absolutely correct, but in an alcoholics mind that is the hardest thing in the world.

 

[funguy2121]

Reminded me of that TinTin story where Professor Calculus helps Captain Haddock overcome his heavy drinking habits by slipping him a bitter tasting drug that makes alcohol unpalatable.

...

what no one read The Adventures of TinTin when they were growing up?.

OT:

*snip*

You don't mean Nitroxoline do you?. That's an antibacterial drug usually used in the treatment of E.coli strains. As far as I can work out though it sounds like the drug you are after is the chemical called Bridion (sugammadex).

Any road, it sounds interesting but the best cure is to not become an alcoholic in the first place.

Agreed, though that doesn't help people who already are.

Neither would this chemical or drug. Damage control isn't a better option when prevention is possible. Besides I am not one for accepting that humanity is a slave to genetic predisposition.

Oh lord, I do hate it when people who already agree with me don't read all that I have stated. I'm as much an enemy of any idea of determinism as you - which is why, as a proponent of the renegade idea of free will (I'm an assole, I know), I found it very affirming when they discovered that the genetic predisposition wasn't a default state of constant cravings but rather a susceptibility to rewiring the brain in such a way. If it wasn't clear that I think alcoholism is largely overdiagnosed by experts and radically overdiagnosed by judgemental dipshits, then I apologize.

 

[funguy2121]

Damn, that was a bit TL;DR.

But 15% of drinkers? That's a bit low to be a valid course of treatment. I suppose it could help a few people, though.

From what ive heard, its a bit high: I always thought that the recidivism rate was more along the lines of 95%. Of course, this also includes state mandated Alcohol programs, which are basically BS.

Awesome for the drug. People of course will say, "Just stop drinking" Thanks for the help there. Lets assume for a second that yes, there is absolutely no factor at work here except personal accountability, and just stopping drinking is feasible, and these people are just weak. You succeeded is helping absolutely no one. Meanwhile, this drug saved a bunch of these weak peoples lives and livelihood. Gonna have to go with the drug on this one.

Thank you, once more, for stating it better than I could have. This kind of reception is a good reason why alcoholics still drink themselves to death, and why homosexuals still sometimes kill themselves. I still believe firmly in accountability, but it's not easy being arbitrarily branded by the everymen of the world. God, I do hate the everyman.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

*snip*

Look, for this arguments sake I am excluding the diagnosis. It doesn't matter how you have it but if you are alcoholic then you simply are that; an alcoholic. I think it's great that this technology can be used to repair some of the damage done by excessive drinking or prevent a deterioration condition from worsening but for people who are already suffering this isn't a cure.

It's a treatment for a symptom of the problem and not the problem itself. What are the chances that this will fully cure the addiction?. This medication (if it goes into trial) is a "I will patch you up" drug and not a permanent solution. At lest until they perfect it.

Sure the people who are already suffering can get relief from it but it's not a cure in the sense they will learn moderation or overcome the addiction. God knows if you are swapping one addiction for another with this medication in the first place.

 

[funguy2121]

*snip*

Look, for this arguments sake I am excluding the diagnosis. It doesn't matter how you have it but if you are alcoholic then you simply are that; an alcoholic. I think it's great that this technology can be used to repair some of the damage done by excessive drinking or prevent a deterioration condition from worsening but for people who are already suffering this isn't a cure.

(1)It's a treatment for a symptom of the problem and not the problem itself. (2)What are the chances that this will fully cure the addiction?. This medication (if it goes into trial) is a "I will patch you up" drug and not a permanent solution. At lest until they perfect it.

Sure the people who are already suffering can get relief from it but it's not a cure in the sense they will learn moderation or overcome the addiction. God knows if you are swapping one addiction for another with this medication in the first place.

(1) Thank you for saying that. Even in AA, this is a voice growing louder.

(2) Someone on this thread addressed the idea of "cure" and "disease" when used here. I admit, I phrased the title to be shorthand and to attract more people to the debate. The idea of a "cure" is largely useless here. And I do agree with you that prevention is better than trying to put out the fire when it's already raging. But if you can return the subconscious part of your brain to normal, and rid yourself of the constant craving for more, why wouldn't you? I do believe that moderation works better for some people, and just as professionals try to persuade some sex addicts to sleep with 20 people this week instead of 50 (and that's not an exaggeration), I think that for an alcoholic who goes from drinking 6 nights a week and drinking 20 drinks half the time to drinking 2-3 nights a week and keeping it under 5 is certainly an improvement. For the most part, yes, I'd have to agree it's more of a stop-gap. But I believe it's worth a look if it can improve anyone's quality of life.

Edit: