Financial Assistance for Recovering Addicts
Article provided by LendEDU
Financial hardship is common among recovering addicts, but there are resources that provide financial aid for drug rehab. Individuals in recovery have access to grants, non-profit and private programs, personal funding, and insurance to manage the expense of rehab.
For people living with addiction, as well as those who care for them, all aspects of life can be affected. Addiction not only creates emotional and physical wounds but can cause other hardships as well.
One significant hurdle faced by those recovering from addiction is financial instability. Substance abuse and drug addiction are expensive on their own, but living with addiction or going through recovery adds further financial challenges.
From rehabilitative therapy to prescription medication and more, the costs of treatment add up quickly – according to U.S News and World Report, the “…annual economic impact from the misuse of prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or alcohol is $442 billion.”
Fortunately, financial aid for drug rehab comes in a variety of forms, from health insurance coverage to state and federal funding. This guide will outline some of the resources designed to provide financial assistance for recovering addicts.
In this guide:
Financial aid for drug rehab
On average, drug rehab costs range from a few to several hundred dollars for a 30-day detox, and between $5,000 and $80,000 for residential recovery treatment. Many individuals in or contemplating recovery may see this as a deterrent to getting the help they need. However, several resources exist that offer financial assistance for drug rehab and associated programs.
Health insurance and the ACA
With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, pre-existing health conditions were no longer an exclusionary tactic for insurance providers. This drastically changed how addiction recovery was viewed under many health insurance plans.
Treatment for addiction is generally considered a covered medical condition. Additionally, The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act mandates that large group health insurance plans cannot impose less favorable limitations on mental health or substance use disorder treatment benefits than on medical or surgical benefits. The ACA amended this federal law to include individual health insurance coverage, not just large group plans.
Any ACA-compliant health insurance policy may pay between 60% and 90% of the cost of rehabilitation. If you have been denied coverage or experienced benefit limits that are not in compliance with these laws, an appeals process may be necessary.
To appeal a denial of benefits under an ACA health insurance plan, request a fair and full review of the denial with the insurance provider directly or follow your state’s external review process. More information about the appeals process can be found here.
To understand what rehabilitation costs are covered with your specific insurance plan, get in contact with your health insurance provider or check policy limits online.
Government grants for recovering addicts
In addition to health insurance coverage through ACA programs, grants may also be available from state and federal governments. Government grants for addiction recovery vary depending on financial circumstances and location, but the resources below are worth evaluating to determine the level of assistance available.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
One resource for federal grants for recovering addicts is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) program. Through SAMHSA, block grants are provided to state addiction treatment providers to benefit those in need. Typically, receiving a SAMHSA grant requires meeting specific income requirements or participating in a qualified treatment program through the courts.
To see eligibility information and complete the application process, visit the SAMHSA website.
State-funded and local treatment programs
According to a recent study conducted by Pew Charitable Trusts, a significant portion of spending on drug and alcohol addiction treatment is done by state and local governments. Public assistance in this form often falls under the purview of specific agencies, such as human services or public health departments.
Financial aid for drug rehab may be offered through reduced-cost or no-cost treatment facilities funded by the state. Additionally, assistance in getting back on one’s feet after treatment may also be available. This assistance often comes in the form of low or no-cost sober living for recovering addicts.
Disability income can also be an option for those in recovery, although the definition of disability is quite strict. Other financial aid for recovering addicts on a state or local level include food stamps, health insurance through Medicaid, employment assistance, or training at little to no cost.
Recovering addicts can visit their state or local government’s website or local human services office to determine what programs and partnerships are available.
VA benefits
Another source of drug rehab assistance comes from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Through the VA, several programs are made available to veterans of the military who are struggling with addiction. Treatment programs, including in-patient and out-patient services, medically-assisted treatment, and residential care, are offered at no cost to qualifying veterans. For help, veterans can speak with their VA healthcare provider, contact a local Vet Center, or call the VA hotline at 1-800-827-1000.
Financial aid directly from treatment centers
Financial assistance for recovering addicts may also be available directly from a treatment center. Because the cost of rehabilitation can be high in private facilities, many offer payment plans and financing to help ease the burden.
After discharge, an individual in recovery may have an option to establish a payment plan that requires installment payments over a period of several months or several years. Interest may or may not be charged, so it is necessary to fully understand the total cost of financing a treatment stay.
You may also be able to find a free treatment center for drug addiction. Typically, centers that do not charge for outpatient or in-patient services for drug rehab have requirements that patients must meet. For instance, the Salvation Army offers little to no-cost drug rehab so long as the patient agrees to work 40 hours per week to help offset the cost. Check with local organizations to see if financing or free treatment is available, but be sure to understand everything that it entails.
Faith-based rehab programs
Many faith-based organizations offer treatment services to recovering addicts. In some cases, sponsorship is available for individuals in the community trying to get out of the throes of addiction. Although the cost of faith-based treatment may not be lower than other treatment centers, this sponsorship can bring down the expense.
Check with local religious organizations or leaders, such as churches, pastors, or priests, to ask about faith-based treatment services available.
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling is a national non-profit that offers a variety of financial education and guidance to those struggling to manage their money. This organization does not provide financial assistance for drug rehab directly. However, people suffering from addiction can work with the counselors at the organization to gain a better understanding of what steps are necessary to improve their overall financial lives.
Crowdfunding
In addition to assistance from treatment centers, the government, or other community-based programs, financial help for drug rehabilitation may come from raising money on your own or with the help of a family member or friend.
Crowdfunding platforms, including GoFundMe and Indiegogo, allow individuals or organizations to raise funds for specific campaigns or initiatives. Crowdfunding campaigns may be used to help fund an individual need – such as covering the cost of drug rehabilitation – with help from friends, family, and local communities easily and quickly.
Drug rehab loan
Drug rehab loans offer another alternative to when recovering addicts need to secure financial aid. Although drug rehab loans are not free aid, they can be beneficial in getting the upfront funds needed to pay for treatment.
Loans for addiction treatment must be repaid with interest over the course of months or years, depending on terms, so it is essential to understand this difference from other forms of financial assistance when considering options.
This option should be a last resort and there should be a repayment plan in place before taking one out to ensure you don’t fall behind on payments.
Specialized lenders
A small number of specialized lenders offer loans to individuals entering or completing treatment programs. The most prominent is My Treatment Lender, which can finance co-pays, out-of-pocket expenses for rehabilitation, or an individual’s stay at an in-patient or residential treatment center.
Specialized lenders have various loan programs available with different costs, repayment terms, and qualification guidelines. Because of these variations, those interested in a specialized loan should evaluate the terms of all available loans before applying and receiving funds.
Personal loans
Finally, personal loans may also be a viable resource for drug rehab assistance. These loans are unsecured, meaning collateral such as a vehicle or home is not necessary to back them. They also offer fixed interest rates and predictable monthly payments that can help make repayment easier in recovery.
Personal loan rates may be higher for individuals with lower credit scores, but many lenders allow for a cosigner. Having a family member or friend with a higher credit score cosign a personal loan application can increase your chances for approval and potentially lower interest rates, which affect the total cost of borrowing.
As with any financing agreement, be sure to read the fine print when getting a personal loan for drug rehab assistance. Take time to understand your obligations as a borrower, as well as the fees you will pay to get the loan and repay it over time.
Author: Melissa Horton
Melissa Horton has an MBA in Finance and has worked as a financial professional for the past 13 years, helping clients understand the often complex vehicles available for both lending and investment needs. She is passionate about financial literacy and strives to educate clients and the general public to empower them in making smart financial decisions. Her work has been featured on Investopedia, iGrad, APRFinder, and more.
'Women my age tend to drink -- it's normal'
February 11, 2020
Science Daily/Edith Cowan University
New research has found that despite the potential health risks of exceeding national drinking guidelines, many middle-aged and young-old women who consume alcohol at high risk levels tend to perceive their drinking as normal and acceptable, so long as they appear respectable and in control.
Women aged 50-70 are more likely than younger women to consume alcohol at levels that exceed low risk drinking guidelines -- and most think that's just perfectly fine.
New Edith Cowan University (ECU) research has found that despite the potential health risks of exceeding national drinking guidelines, many middle-aged and young-old women who consume alcohol at high risk levels tend to perceive their drinking as normal and acceptable, so long as they appear respectable and in control.
The study is a collaboration between ECU and Aalborg University, Denmark, led by Dr Julie Dare from ECU's School of Medical and Health Sciences. It investigated the social construction of alcohol use among 49 women aged 50 to 69 in Denmark and Australia.
According to Australian health authorities, drinking more than two standard drinks on any day increases the risk considerably of premature death over a woman's lifetime.
Key findings:
Women place more importance on appearing to be in control, behaving respectably, social pleasure and feeling liberated than the quantity of alcohol consumed or potential health risks.
While some women reported reducing their drinking due to health concerns, others suggested that positive health behaviours such as exercise served to 'neutralise' alcohol-related health risks.
Health advice and interventions relating to middle-aged and young-old women's drinking practices need to acknowledge that women may socially construct their drinking practices to prioritise matters other than biomedical impacts of alcohol.
Controlled and acceptable drinking
Dr Dare said the research highlighted the widespread use of alcohol in both samples of women in Australia and Denmark.
"Respondents from both countries indicated that alcohol use among women their age was normal and acceptable," she said.
One respondent observed:
"It has become part of the norm . . . it is something we do with our acquaintances, friends and families. That's just something we do" (D8, 59 years).
"However, the importance of 'staying in control' while drinking emerged as an important qualifier to the social acceptability of drinking," Dr Dare said.
Another respondent said:
"As long as they (women) don't make a fool of themselves, they don't want to go falling down and showing their knickers" (A9, 69 years).
"Health messaging of no more than two standard drinks per day and no more than four standard drinks on any single drinking occasion didn't seem to be relevant to women in this age group. There was a fair percentage drinking over that," Dr Dare said.
"In Australia, younger women are starting to drink less, their rates have declined, but the proportion of women aged 60 and older drinking at levels that exceed single occasion guidelines (more than 4 standard drinks on a single occasion) has increased. Similar trends are evident in Denmark and the United Kingdom."
Cultural differences
While the study highlighted many similarities between Australian and Danish women, one interesting cultural difference was the way Australian women thought about alcohol in relation to stress.
"If the Australian women had some sort of distress in their lives they believed it was acceptable to drink. They were quite open about this saying 'I just had a bad day, I needed to have a drink'," Dr Dare said.
"Danish women were not the same. They reported it wasn't 'acceptable' to drink if they were upset. They believed that you shouldn't use alcohol as a crutch to cope," she said.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200211103727.htm
Marijuana may boost risky effects of drinking alcohol
August 13, 2019
Science Daily/Penn State
Compared to people who only drank alcohol, those who used alcohol and marijuana simultaneously were more likely to drink heavier and more often, according to researchers. They were also more likely to experience alcohol-related problems -- like impulsive actions they later regretted.
As the legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use are both on the rise in the United States, people are not necessarily using alcohol less and may be unaware of the risks of combining alcohol and marijuana, according to researchers.
A new study from Penn State found that compared to people who only drank alcohol, those who used alcohol and marijuana simultaneously were more likely to drink heavier and more often. They were also more likely to experience alcohol-related problems -- like impulsive actions they later regretted.
"The results suggest that individuals who simultaneously use alcohol and marijuana are at a disproportionately higher risk for heavy, frequent, and problematic substance use," said Ashley Linden-Carmichael, assistant research professor at the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State.
The researchers said the findings -- recently published in the journal Substance Use and Misuse -- also suggest that prevention and intervention programs should take into account not just alcohol, but also if people are using additional substances, as well.
"Right now, a lot of campus programs focus on whether students are drinking, and while sometimes they are asked about other substances, it's not necessarily whether they're using these substances simultaneously," Linden-Carmichael said. "I think we do need to be asking about whether they're drinking in combination with other drugs and educating students about how that exacerbates their risk."
According to the researchers, marijuana use is at an all-time high among young adults in the U.S., possibly leading to people using marijuana and alcohol simultaneously.
"The problem with simultaneous use is that it can affect people cognitively and perceptually, and also have an impact on motor impairment," Linden-Carmichael said. "There is a burgeoning area of research that is examining why people are using marijuana and alcohol together and what those effects are."
In the study, Linden-Carmichael said she and the other researchers were interested in learning more about how people use marijuana and alcohol together. They also wanted to explore whether personality traits -- like the tendency to pursue new and exciting experiences, or "sensation seeking" -- were associated with higher odds of using alcohol and marijuana at the same time.
The researchers recruited 1,017 participants from 49 states in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 25 for the study. The participants provided information about how often they used alcohol, marijuana and the two substances simultaneously. They also filled out questionnaires that measured their experiences with alcohol-related problems, whether they had a sensation-seeking personality, and how they perceived the drinking habits of their friends.
Linden-Carmichael said that across the board, individuals who used alcohol and marijuana simultaneously were at a greater risk than individuals using alcohol alone.
"Even after controlling for the number of drinks a person typically consumed, people who used alcohol and marijuana at the same time were at a greater risk for problems like blacking out, getting in an argument, or other concerns," Linden-Carmichael said. "Additionally, 70 percent of those who engaged in simultaneous use reported using at least weekly."
The researchers found that among people who used alcohol and marijuana simultaneously, those who used more frequently were more likely to drink more alcohol, more often, and for longer periods of time. They were also associated with using more marijuana more often.
Additionally, they found that people who used alcohol and marijuana together were more likely to have higher levels of sensation-seeking characteristics and think their friends were drinking larger amounts of alcohol.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190813143853.htm
Binge drinking in adolescence may increase risk for anxiety later in life
March 11, 2019
Science Daily/University of Illinois at Chicago
Researchers have found that adolescent binge drinking, even if discontinued, increases the risk for anxiety later in life due to abnormal epigenetic programming.
A growing body of evidence supports the idea that alcohol exposure early in life has lasting effects on the brain and increases the risk of psychological problems in adulthood. Now, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have found that adolescent binge drinking, even if discontinued, increases the risk for anxiety later in life due to abnormal epigenetic programming. The findings of the study, which was conducted in animals, was published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.
"Binge drinking early in life modifies the brain and changes connectivity in the brain, especially in the amygdala, which is involved in emotional regulation and anxiety, in ways we don't totally understand yet," said Subhash Pandey, professor of psychiatry in the UIC College of Medicine, director of the UIC Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics and lead author of the study. "But what we do know is that epigenetic changes are lasting, and increase susceptibility to psychological issues later in life, even if drinking that took place early in life is stopped."
"Epigenetics" refers to chemical changes to DNA, RNA, or specific proteins associated with chromosomes that change the activity of genes without changing the genes themselves. Epigenetic alterations are required for the normal development of the brain, but they can be modified in response to environmental or even social factors, such as alcohol and stress. These kinds of epigenetic alterations have been linked to changes in behavior and disease.
Adolescent rats were exposed to ethanol (a type of alcohol) for two days on and two days off or to the same protocol using saline for 14 days. All rats underwent an assessment for anxiety.
Pandey and his colleagues exposed adolescent rats to a regimen designed to mimic binge drinking. Those rats exhibited anxious behavior later in life, even if the binge drinking regimen stopped in late adolescence and the rats were allowed to mature to adulthood without any further exposure to alcohol.
These rats also had lower levels of a protein called Arc in the amygdala. Arc is important for the normal development of synaptic connections in the brain. Rats with less Arc also had about 40 percent fewer neuronal connections in the amygdala compared with rats that weren't exposed to alcohol.
"We believe that the decrease in Arc levels is caused by epigenetic changes that alter the expression of Arc, and an enhancer RNA, which modifies the expression of Arc. These changes are caused by adolescent alcohol exposure," said Pandey.
"Exposure to alcohol causes epigenetic reprogramming to occur, leading to molecular changes in the amygdala, which are long-lasting, even in the absence of more alcohol," said Pandey, who is also a senior research career scientist at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. "If the amygdala has deficits in its wiring or connectivity, and these modifications are long-lasting, the individual is at risk for psychological issues based on difficulties in regulating emotions, such as anxiety or depression and the development of alcohol use disorder later in life."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190311125156.htm
Health and Wellness in Addiction Recovery
Story contribution by Hailey Parks
Living a healthy lifestyle is something that can easily fall to the wayside in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven society. Health and wellness can easily become something that is taken for granted. For people in recovery from addiction or alcoholism, health and wellness can be a tool used to treat mental health and help maintain sobriety.
Addiction and Malnutrition
Those who suffer from addiction are likely to be malnourished, lacking the essential vitamins and nutrients to fuel their bodies for various reasons.
Opiate withdrawal can cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting which can lead to a lack of nutrients and an electrolyte imbalance. However, eating balanced meals during detox, including foods high in fiber, whole grain carbohydrates, and lean protein, can actually help make the detox process go smoother.
Alcohol abuse is one of the top causes of nutrient deficiency in the U.S. as people who abuse alcohol tend to lack B vitamins. In addition, many people who abuse alcohol can cause damage to their liver and pancreas, leading to metabolism problems.
Stimulants typically reduce user’s appetites causing weight loss, poor nutrition, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances.
Although abusing drugs or alcohol can lead to nutrient deficiencies, eating a balanced diet and getting sober can help reverse many of these issues.
Nutrition in Recovery
Eating a nutritious diet in early recovery can benefit both physical and mental health. For those choosing to detox, a great way to jump-start the detox process is to eat raw foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Another essential aspect of making the detox process more bearable is by staying properly hydrated.
After detox is over, it is important to keep in mind that drug or alcohol abuse can take a toll on the heart, liver, and brain. To help keep these essential organs healthy, one should consume foods like:
Leafy greens
Berries
Nuts
Avocados
Almonds
Dark chocolate
Edamame
Whole grains
Green tea
Beans
Broccoli
Lean protein
Eating this type of diet in early recovery can be especially difficult because it is common for people in recovery to crave sugary foods. When drugs and alcohol are removed, levels of dopamine drop. Eating sugar, on the other hand, can cause a surge in dopamine levels similar to that of the effects of drugs and alcohol. However, sugar can become an addiction in itself and lead to weight gain. In addition, eating excess sugar can cause fluctuating blood sugar levels. When blood sugar fluctuates up and down, a person can become anxious or depressed, causing their mental health to become unstable. When it comes to sobriety, mental health is just as important as physical health.
Exercise for Mental Clarity
Along with nutrition, exercise can be beneficial in promoting mental health in sobriety. Exercise can help boost mental health in several ways.
As little as 1 hour of physical activity a week is related to less anxiety and fewer drug cravings.
Those who make exercise a regular part of their routine are less likely to suffer from depression, panic disorders, and anxiety.
Serotonin increases during exercise which helps regulate sleep, appetite, and mood.
GABA and Glutamate are responsible for processing emotions and thought patterns. These chemicals are released during exercise which can prevent depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mood disorders.
Exercise lowers stress and is a great outlet for mitigating negative emotions.
Keeping one’s mental health as a top priority during sobriety can help prevent relapse. After all, those who suffer from co-occurring mental illness and addiction typically have a difficult time maintaining sobriety due to the unique obstacles they face. By enjoying an active lifestyle, people in recovery can prevent their mental health symptoms from getting worse.
Mindfulness for Relaxation and Decision Making
It’s easy to let human instincts run the show when feeling anxious, but this can be a recipe for disaster in sobriety. Instead, it is important to learn how to relax in sobriety and to be mindful about making the right decisions. Mindfulness is a useful technique for relaxation and decision making that can be easily incorporated into daily routines
Mindfulness has been proven to help alleviate stress by improving emotion regulation. When individuals have an appropriate way of regulating and processing emotions, they will be able to think clearly about decisions that need to be made. Practicing mindfulness can be as easy as laying down in a comfortable position, closing the eyes, and focusing on breathing. Another way to practice mindfulness is through looking up free mindful meditation videos on the internet. This practice will raise a person’s awareness of their body, energy, feelings, and surroundings.
Practicing mindfulness is also attributed to:
Increased attention and focus
Lowered anxiety
Relaxation
Higher brain function
Decreased heart rate and blood pressure
A shift in perception and mental clarity
Health & Wellness in Maintaining Long Term Sobriety
By eating a nutritious diet, getting adequate exercise, and participating in mindful relaxation exercises, individuals help keep their mind and body healthy in sobriety. After all, people don’t get sober to feel unhealthy and depressed - people get sober to change their lifestyles for the better. Taking care of mental and physical health is a key aspect of living healthy and maintaining long term sobriety
Hailey is a recovering alcoholic and addict who enjoys writing about addiction. After years of neglecting her physical and mental health in sobriety, she began to make dramatic changes in her lifestyle to be happier and healthier. Her passions include helping others, taking hikes with her dog, and spending time by the beach.
Hailey Parks hailey.parks01 @ g mail .com
Study overturns decade-old findings in neurobiology: Research suggests potential target for drugs to combat alcohol addiction
May 13, 2010
Science Daily/Scripps Research Institute
In findings that should finally put to rest a decade of controversy in the field of neurobiology, a team at The Scripps Research Institute has found decisive evidence that a specific neurotransmitter system -- the endocannabinoid system -- is active in a brain region known to play a key role in the processing of memory, emotional reactions, and addiction formation. The new study also shows that this system can dampen the effects of alcohol, suggesting an avenue for the development of drugs to combat alcohol addiction.
The research was published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology on May 12.
"This study will change a lot in the field," said Scripps Research Associate Professor Marisa Roberto, who was first author of the paper. "I'm confident it will have a big impact."
"This is very new," said Paul Schweitzer, associate professor of the neurobiology of addiction at Scripps Research and corresponding author of the paper. "It is the first time a study has shown a direct cellular interaction between endocannabinoids and alcohol in the brain."
The Missing Link?
The new research overturns the conclusions of a paper published by a European group in the Journal of Neuroscience in 2001. This paper claimed that endocannabinoid receptors, in particular the most common type called CB1, did not exist in the brain region called the central amygdala.
"Yet CB1 receptors are very abundant," said Schweitzer. "They are almost everywhere in the brain and there are lots of them. The endocannabinoid system acts on appetite, mood, memory -- and addiction. Addiction is why we started to study it in the central amygdala."
The Scripps Research scientists began to suspect that the 2001 study, whose conclusions had been widely accepted in the field, might have missed the CB1 receptors in the brain's central amygdala. Indirect evidence from a number of subsequent studies -- including one by Scripps Research Associate Professor Loren "Larry" Parsons -- had suggested that the endocannabinoid system (and by implication its receptors) were indeed active in this brain region.
The Scripps Research team decided to take a fresh look at the whole question, and set out to conduct a new physiological study specifically looking for signs of the missing CB1 receptors in the central amygdala.
"There wasn't much physiology done before this," said Roberto. "There were a lot of behavioral studies, but very few on physiology and, aside from the 2001 study, none on the physiology in the central amygdala -- this brain region that is so important for drugs of abuse."
Back on Track
Using electrophysiological techniques in brain slices to test the response of brain cells from the rat central amygdala, the scientists indeed found compelling evidence that CB1 receptors were active there.
The cells responded to a substance (agonist) mimicking the action of endocannabinoids in the brain. Up to a point, the more of the agonist the scientists applied, the bigger the effect. An inhibitor (antagonist) reversed this response.
"We saw a big and consistent physiological effect," said Roberto. "It was beautiful. The receptor had to be there or otherwise it wouldn't have worked."
With this major milestone achieved, the researchers extended their investigation to their primary area of interest -- the brain's response to alcohol. Alcohol abuse can lead to devastating consequences for individuals and families. It is also associated with direct and indirect public health costs estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars yearly in the United States alone.
To learn more about the effect of alcohol on the biology of the brain, the scientists focused on the transmission of one particular neurotransmitter called gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and neurons in every brain region use GABA to fine-tune signaling throughout the nervous system. Previous studies by the Scripps Research scientists indicated that GABA plays a critical role in alcohol dependence and other addictions.
"We knew ethanol in these neurons increase GABA transmission, and that cannabinoids decrease GABA transmission," said Roberto. "So the question was what happens if we activate the cannabinoid system and we put ethanol on it."
When the scientists first applied the CB1 agonist on cells from the central amygdala, it decreased GABA transmission; when the scientists proceeded to put ethanol on top, the effect of ethanol was abolished. When the team reversed the order of application, GABA transmission first went up with the application of ethanol, then down with the application of the CB1 agonist.
"Alcohol and CB1 agonists have opposing effects on GABA," summarized Schweitzer. "Our feeling is that since the CB1 system is so widely expressed, there's a big role there in dampening the effect of alcohol."
While the team's research points to the endocannibinoid system as a potential target in the development of drugs to treat alcoholism, Schweitzer notes there are still many questions to be answered: Do CB1 agonists work the same way in brains that have become addicted to alcohol? What is the mechanism for this action? Can the effects of CB1 on alcohol metabolism be separated from its many other effects on mood, appetite, and memory?
Schweitzer also cautions against equating CB1 agonists and cannabis in interpreting the study's results. "This study does not have to do with marijuana, but the endocannabinoid system," he said. "On this level of analysis, the two don't have much in common."
The work was supported by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100512151549.htm