Customer Reviews

Alcohol and the Addictive Brain

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I first acquired this book shortly after it was published in 1991, and I have now been continuously sober for over eleven years. The hypothesis that alcoholism is an empirically identifiable neurochemical imbalance in the brain is still met with strong resistance by drunks, moralists and many therapists. Unfortunately for these sometimes vocal critics, Blum and Payne present compelling laboratory evidence that it is as much a neurological disorder as Parkinson's or epilepsy.

Alcohol and the Addictive Brain is possibly the best published explanation of genetic and neurochemical causes of alcohol dependence, withdrawal and craving. This book explains how genetically susceptible individuals, differ neurochemically from nonalcoholics, and how alcohol alters dopamine, GABA, serotonin, norepinephrine and opiate neurotransmitter and neurotransmitter receptor levels. Inherited differences in P300 brainwaves are thoroughly explained. The history of alcohol neurotransmitter research is reported, objectively, with fair consideration given to opposing views. This book is surprisingly readable, considering the complexity of the research it explains. Enkephalinase inhibition treatments, which Blum has refined, are an especially promising possibility for reducing alcohol craving and dependence. The explanation of transformation of alcohol to acetaldehyde, and subsequently to beta carboline, tetrahydroisoquinolines, morphine, codeine and other opiates, remains useful today and helps explain why naltrexone and accupuncture can reduce alcohol craving and consumption.
Wider comprehension of the neurochemical concepts explained in this book, could help alcohol treatment advance beyond the slide rule era technology, which most treatment programs persist in providing.

Unfortunately, this book appears to be out of print.
I was fortunate enough to order one of the last available copies of this book, from Amazon. I first encountered this book, at the Denver Public Library, and you may be able to obtain it, on the worldcat internet library system. It will be worth your effort to obtain it on interlibrary loan, if necessary.

Steven Sponaugle

The book was in better condition than I thought it would be in. It was shipped here on time. I highly recommend doing business w/this seller!