The factors involved with the development of alcoholism or another type of substance abuse are a mix of biological and environmental causes. Researchers are beginning to explore the areas of the brain that may be especially vulnerable to addiction in certain individuals.

With a clear understanding of which receptors in the brain are reacting to substances like drugs or alcohol, medications may be tested to determine what might be effective at manipulating the way the brain responds when presented with a stimulus that triggers a craving for an addictive substance.

Some scientists are testing drugs for treating alcoholism, nicotine and drug addiction with medications that were developed not for treating substance abuse, but for treating diabetics and heart-related problems. Two recent studies highlight the possibilities of using existing medications for treating substance abuse.

In one study, by Mascia and colleagues, the researchers examined whether drugs that activate PPAR-a, a receptor in the brain, may counteract nicotine’s addictive qualities. The drugs are fibrates, which are used clinically for treating high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

The study’s results demonstrated that the drug was effective in reducing nicotine consumption and relapse to nicotine after a period of cessation. The drug also blocked nicotine from activating electrical activity and neurochemical responses in the brain areas where addiction plays a role.

The second study, led by Stopponi and colleagues, tested the use of pioglitazone to alter the brain’s response to alcohol. The researchers wanted to test the medication’s effects on alcohol drinking, relapse-like behavior and withdrawal in animal models. Pioglitazone is currently used to treat type-2 diabetes.

Co-author Dr. Robert Cicocioppo explained that the drug was successful in significantly reducing alcohol consumption in animal models. The team also discovered that the medication blocked symptoms of alcohol cravings when the subject was exposed to stress and prevented some withdrawal symptoms.

The findings of the two studies underscore the important role that existing medications may play in treating psychological disorders. The two medications, developed for physical conditions, may prove useful in treating a broader range of problems.

The authors of the studies caution that the findings are encouraging, but that further research is required to fully explore the potential for these medications to be helpful in treating substance abuse problems.

Substance abuse treatment programs may soon find new weapons in their arsenal for treating patients who need assistance in addition to therapy and life skills training. The use of medication to treat alcoholism and other types of substance addiction may be very effective in helping prevent relapse.