One shot of ketamine could reduce problem drinking

A one-off dose of ketamine could help heavy drinkers reduce their alcohol intake, finds a new UCL experimental study. Giving a shot of ketamine to heavy drinkers after reactivating their drinking-related memories led to a rapid decrease in urges to drink and a prolonged decrease in alcohol intake over nine months, according to the study published . "We found that heavy drinkers experienced a long-term improvement after a very quick and simple experimental treatment," said the study's lead author, Dr Ravi Das (UCL Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit). The researchers were seeking to upend the maladaptive reward memories that are central to drug and alcohol addiction. "Learning is at the heart of why people become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Essentially, the drug hijacks the brain's in-built reward-learning system, so that you end up associating environmental 'triggers' with the drug. These produce an exaggerated desire to take the drug," Dr Das explained.