The Foundation for Alcoholism Research Funds Breakthrough Research

Medical Breakthrough

About two years ago, baclofen appeared on FAR’s horizon and, after considerable reading and inquiring, the Board of Directors determined that a baclofen study was the area for the next grant. Since then, FAR has been working to raise the necessary funds for this study. Large funding for studying baclofen for tobacco and marijuana use disorders has been granted previously by others, but sadly, not for alcohol addiction. Together with the research team undertaking this new study, FAR sees great value and promise in studying this medication to help those afflicted with addiction, including alcohol.

Pharmaceutical companies lack interest in researching the effects of baclofen for addiction, possibly because the medication is now generic and therefore would generate little revenue. FAR is the first organization to fund a baclofen for alcohol addiction project.

Lead investigators on this study will be Dr. Franklin and Dr. Wetherill in the Department of Psychiatry at the Center for the Studies of Addiction. “We are excited about this research and so grateful to FAR for its support. With findings from this pilot phase we are well positioned to make some breakthroughs in the future phase,” Dr. Franklin expressed.

The project will test baclofen’s effects on the brain’s response to reminders to drink alcohol. Alcohol-related reminders (or cues) can elicit subjective craving, which often precipitates relapse. The study will be conducted in individuals who are heavy drinkers and/or who have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.

FAR is the only public organization targeting research into effective medical treatments for alcohol use disorder. This is the largest project that FAR has undertaken thus far and is thankful to all of its contributors to be able to fund such an important project.

The Foundation for Alcoholism Research is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2008 to raise and distribute funds to perform research in the following areas: Causes, Identification, Detection, Prevention, Treatment, Control, and Cure of/for Alcoholism.

1 Comment on "The Foundation for Alcoholism Research Funds Breakthrough Research"

  1. Baclofen is very effective in treating alcoholism. In 2015 over 200,000 people in France are taking baclofen as part of their treatment. In Europe alone, it’s estimated that upwards of 350,000 people are taking baclofen to treat their alcoholism.

    The only reason it’s not more popular is because it’s an old medication who’s patents have expired long ago. Therefore, there’s no money in it for pharmaceutical companies who usually fund the marketing of drugs.

    Are 350,000 people living a mass delusion in which they “think” that baclofen is curing them?

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