SY12-4REDUCTION OF ALCOHOL INTAKE AS A PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT TARGET?

There is substantial evidence coming from research studies that individuals with alcohol abuse or dependence may benefit not only from maintaining full abstinence but also from reduction of alcohol consumption. Many alcoholic patients who are not severely dependent recover or improve significantly by moderating their drinking rather than stopping alcohol intake. Consumption reduction brings many benefits, especially in reducing risks of many alcohol-related diseases and mortality. Moreover, therapeutic programs aiming at drinking reduction open the door for many individuals who do not accept complete abstinence and are not willing to follow radical treatments or are not able to abstain from drinking entirely. Such approach offering the choice for patients entering treatment programs (reduction of alcohol consumption or abstinence) in a continuum of treatment goals may help reduce the barriers to treatment perceived by some individuals. Engaging patients in managing personally their treatment may also improve adherence. New pharmacological agents have been recently introduced to support consumption reduction programs. One of them, nalmefene is an opioid system modulator with antagonist activity at the μ and δ opioid receptors and partial agonist activity at the κ opioid receptor. Several large-scale studies proved its efficacy in reducing total daily alcohol consumption and number of heavy drinking days. As-needed nalmefene helps alcohol-dependent patients to decrease their drinking towards low-risk levels and thus reducing potential health-related harm associated with alcohol use.