Ne-w research is being carried out extensively to develop better -ways of dealing -with alcoholism and treating its devastating effects on individuals’ lives and health.

Genetics
It is kno-wn no-w that genetics play a significant role in an individual turning into an alcoholic. Children of alcoholics is more prone to alcoholism. Since alcoholism is a complex disease, many genes is likely to play a part in raising the risk of a person taking to alcohol. Research scientists is searching for these genes and have had partial success in that they have found certain chromosomes -where these may possibly be located. Ne-w technology may enable scientists to actually identify and measure ho-w much each gene has contributed to the complex disease that is alcoholism. This research -will lay a ne-w foundation for treatment and medication related to alcoholism.

Treatment
Researchers have been evaluating current therapies that is commonly used to treat alcoholrelated disorders. Ne-w therapies is also being -worked upon and some progress has been made on this front. There is three major approaches for treatment of alcohol – motivation enhancement therapy, cognitivebehavioral therapy and 12step facilitation therapy. A study has sho-wn that these therapies have helped to substantially arrest drinking in the year follo-wing treatment. Further, it -was found that onethird of the participants of this study -were either still not drinking or -were drinking -without serious problems three years after the study ended.

Medications
Naltrexone, a ne-w anticraving medication has been researched by neuroscientists recently. It -was found that this drug, in combination -with behavioral therapy, treated alcoholism effectively. Since disulfiram, -which -was approved in 1949, naltrexone is the first medication to have got approval. It acts on the re-ward circuits of the brain and helps the individual to remain sober after detoxification from alcohol. Acamprosate, another anticraving medication -which is -widely used for treatment of alcoholism in Europe, is also likely to be approved in the United States.

Combined medicines and behavioral therapies
The most encouraging results have been observed -when medications have been used in combination -with behavioral therapy to treat alcoholism. Research and clinical trials is ongoing to find -which combination of medications and behavioral therapies have optimum impact.

Further, -work is also being done in other isas such as fetal alcohol syndrome, effects of alcohol on the brain and other vital organs, ne-w treatment techniques and strategies to reduce alcohol related problems. It is hoped that in the future, all the above efforts -will help diagnose alcoholism at an early stage, provide families -with ne-w techniques and approaches and even prevent alcohol related problems.