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Year 2026 · Volume 1 · Issue 2

Original Article

Biology, clinical pharmacology and treatment of alcoholism

Michel Bourin1
1 Professor, Neurobiology of anxiety and mood disorders, Nantes University, 98 rue Joseph Blanchart, Nantes. France.

Published Online: May-August 2026

Pages: 26-31

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Abstract

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic, multifactorial condition shaped by genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental influences. Differences in alcohol sensitivity and vulnerability across populations are partly explained by ethanol metabolism, which is determined by genes encoding alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase. Repeated alcohol exposure progressively remodels neural circuits involved in reward, stress, and executive control, thereby promoting dependence and relapse. Effective management usually requires an integrated approach that combines detoxification support, pharmacotherapy, and behavioral interventions. Approved medications, including disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone, together with structured cognitive therapy and motivational counseling, have demonstrated clinical benefit. However, important questions remain, including why AUD varies so widely between patients, why some individuals recover without formal treatment, how inherited risk is expressed, and how therapy can be better personalized. Further research into neurobio logy, pharmacogenetics, and novel therapeutic targets is essential to improve prevention and support sustained recovery.

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Citations

Michel Bourin, “Biology, clinical pharmacology and treatment of alcoholism”, Indian Journal of Clinical and Medical Research, Volume 01, Issue 02, May-August 2026, PP: 26-31.

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Licensing

© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Fifth Dimension Research Publication.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.

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