Research & Resources

Naltrexone is a medication that can effectively treat alcohol use disorders. In this paper, researchers studied both the mechanism that Naltrexone uses and how people taking the drug experience alcohol. They collected, reviewed, and analyzed the body of scientific literature on the drug and its effects. They found evidence that Naltrexone did reduce alcohol cravings and stimulation but increased sedation and negative moods. The effects varied based on amount of alcohol use, although effects were found in both heavy-drinking individuals and those with alcohol use disorder. These results suggest that Naltrexone changes how much neurological activation people experience when exposed to alcohol and how pleasant they perceive it is.The article, “Naltrexone effects on subjective responses to alcohol in the human laboratory: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It was published in the journal, Addiction Biology.