Study: Drug may prevent alcoholic relapse

PORTLAND, Ore., July 23 (UPI) -- A drug that blocks the feelings of elation associated with drinking may prevent alcoholics from relapsing, U.S. scientists say.

The scientists said the findings, the result of studying mice at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, could lead to human clinical trials within a year, the university said Wednesday in a news release.

"We showed we could block behavior in mice that resembles this increased euphoria even after the animals had been given a lot of alcohol," said Tamara Phillips, professor and vice chairwoman of OHSU's behavioral neuroscience department.

Alcohol consumption causes the body to release "corticotrophin-releasing factor," a substance that activates receptors in the brain. Phillips said her team determined a brain receptor called CRF1 seems to be involved in the heightened pleasure sensation people experience with alcohol.

Researchers gave mice an experimental drug that prevented CRF from reaching the brain receptor and the mice didn't experience the euphoric reaction.

The results also may apply to stress-induced relapses because the CRF1 receptor triggers the body's response to stress, researchers said.

"I think if you block this receptor, you might be able to decrease drinking in response to (post-traumatic stress disorder)," Phillips said.

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