Recently on reddit, i came across a post by a user claiming that alcoholism is a choice and not a disease. Want to quit? oh its just a simple matter of will power. We can agree here that thats crap, otherwise this forum wouldn't exist. The medical profession agrees that alcoholism is a disease, and i wanted to post my response here that demonstrates how alcoholism damages the brains reward center and how baclofen plays a roll in this area in how it cures addiction to alcohol.
heres the post:
After having read a front page post that says that alcoholism is not a disease, its a choice. If you want to quit it's a simple matter of will power. Well its not so simple as that, I think most of the people here who have tried can attest to that. This kind of thinking really annoys me, its sets back the medical solutions that are available now that work. drinking alcohol at first is a choice but it does progress into a disease. It changes the brain over time by damaging the reward centers in the brain, the below is relevant as alcohol releases dopamine in the NAcc, and is why it is addictive:
source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9A...drug_addiction
I currently take baclofen which I've been using successfully for my cravings. Baclofen reduces the release of dopamine in that area of the brain that is responsible for cravings.
source - http://i.imgur.com/cEz2VWJ.png
Cure the cravings cure the disease.
~ Dr Ameisen
heres the post:
After having read a front page post that says that alcoholism is not a disease, its a choice. If you want to quit it's a simple matter of will power. Well its not so simple as that, I think most of the people here who have tried can attest to that. This kind of thinking really annoys me, its sets back the medical solutions that are available now that work. drinking alcohol at first is a choice but it does progress into a disease. It changes the brain over time by damaging the reward centers in the brain, the below is relevant as alcohol releases dopamine in the NAcc, and is why it is addictive:
One area of the brain most strongly associated with addiction is the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and striatum while other structures that project to and from the NAcc also play a critical role. Though many other changes occur, addiction is often characterized by the reduction of dopamine D2 receptors in the NAcc.[48] In addition to low NAcc D2 binding
>It has also been reported that the KOR system is critical for stress-induced drug-seeking. In animal models, stress has been demonstrated to potentiate cocaine reward behavior in a kappa opioid-dependent manner.[57][58] These effects are likely caused by stress-induced drug craving that requires activation of the KOR system
>It has also been reported that the KOR system is critical for stress-induced drug-seeking. In animal models, stress has been demonstrated to potentiate cocaine reward behavior in a kappa opioid-dependent manner.[57][58] These effects are likely caused by stress-induced drug craving that requires activation of the KOR system
I currently take baclofen which I've been using successfully for my cravings. Baclofen reduces the release of dopamine in that area of the brain that is responsible for cravings.
It has been demonstrated that [b]baclofen suppresses alcohol-stimulated dopamine release in the shell of the Nucleus accumbens (NAc or NAcc) of rats. Different lines of experimental evidence suggest that mesolimbic dopamine neurons are invovled in the mediation of alcohol intake and reinforcement. interestingly, GABA-b receptors are located in the ventral tegmental area, both on the cell body of dopamine neurons and on the terminals of glutamatengic afferent neurons. Their activation by the GABA-b receptor agonists may exert an inhibitory action on the dopamine neurons. The possible mechanism through which baclofen suppresses alcohol stimulated dopamine release and in turn, dopamine mediated, alcohol reinforced and motivated behaviors
Cure the cravings cure the disease.
One characteristic that separates addiction from the vast majority of other diseases is that it is symptom driven and symptom dependent. in addiction the symptoms are the disease. In nearly all other diseases, symptoms do not drive the progression of the disease. when symptoms are discernible, they can often be suppressed, while the disease itself rages on in the body. Stopping the symptoms of addiction - the cravings, obsessive thoughts, and the motivation to consume an addictive substance or engage in an addictive behaviour would in fact stop the disease. the patient would go into complete remission.
Craving for an addictive substance, or a compulsive behaviour, is the primary symptom of addiction and compulsion in two senses. From the suffering patient point of view, craving is the constant enemy that must be battled - even after years of abstinence. and from the point of view of the disease process, craving is now recognized as the number one cause of relapse.
Among addiction medicines, baclofen is unique to date in showing the ability to suppress, as opposed to reduce, motivation to consume alcohol, cocaine, heroin, nicotine and amphetamine in animal studies. it is also unique among addiction medicines
Craving for an addictive substance, or a compulsive behaviour, is the primary symptom of addiction and compulsion in two senses. From the suffering patient point of view, craving is the constant enemy that must be battled - even after years of abstinence. and from the point of view of the disease process, craving is now recognized as the number one cause of relapse.
Among addiction medicines, baclofen is unique to date in showing the ability to suppress, as opposed to reduce, motivation to consume alcohol, cocaine, heroin, nicotine and amphetamine in animal studies. it is also unique among addiction medicines
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