Researchers may be on the path to a new method of treatment for alcoholism that is connected to stress. Markus Heilig and other researchers from Lilly Research Laboratories, University College in London, and the National Institute of Health performed the clinical studies.

They have discovered a specific molecule in the brain that is related to stress, anxiety, and alcoholism. It is called the neurokinin 1 receptor. After they initially discovered this molecule in animals, they genetically engineered mice that didn’t have it. When offered alcohol, the ones who lacked this molecule drank far less than those who had it.

In the first human study, people who had suffered from alcoholism and anxiety but had recently undergone alcohol detox were given something to block the neurokinin 1 receptor. Participants reported that they had fewer cravings for alcohol and felt better overall. Images of their brains showed that they had increased reactions to positive stimuli and were less sensitive to negative stimuli. Basically, their brains made the decision to be happy more often and decided to be anxious less often.

After seeking addiction treatment, the main reason why people relapse back into alcoholism after a long period without it is to relieve stress and anxiety. The researchers have discovered that these two things are very closely linked in the brain. They are hopeful that a whole series of drugs for treating alcohol addiction can be developed.

Blocking the molecule works by lowering an individual’s reactions to stress, making them less likely to seek out alcohol again after they have been through detox and rehabilitation. This finding could be wonderful news for people who struggle back and forth between sobriety and alcoholism. It is not a cure-all addiction treatment by any means, but it promises to be effective for people who are already motivated on the path to addiction recovery.