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Plan to Use Highly Addictive Drug to Replace Alcohol Effects

May 14, 2012 by admin in Pharmaceuticals with 0 Comments

Testing is about to begin on a drug that’s expected to prevent alcohol intoxication by replacing it with a different high. The replacement drug, iomazenil, is a benzodiazepine, a class of drugs noted for their rapid inducement of addiction and coincident decrease in the positive sensations.

The testing of iomazenil is focused on physical reactions and coordination, such as ability to safely drive a vehicle. The press is mistakenly labeling it as a “stay sober” drug and saying it would be used to wean people off alcohol. No one’s asking how they’d then be weaned off iomazenil.

The lead researcher, Deepak D’Souza, says:

A medication that has the potential to block alcohol actions in the central nervous system could act as a unique medication in the treatment of alcohol intoxication and alcoholism.

Alcohol is abused commonly but there is no remedy for alcohol intoxication.

This project is looking at the substance iomazenil and its effect on alcohol intoxication and alcohol’s effects on driving an automobile.

Apparently, it doesn’t matter that there’s no drug to cure benzodiazepine addiction. Or is that the next miracle drug?

It’s claimed that the use of iomazenil will reduce the damage done to the liver and other organs. That may be so, but it doesn’t consider the damage that may be done by benzodiazepines, including depression and emotional anesthesia, harm to the hypothalamus, probable neurotoxicity, brain damage, and an increase in anxiety disorders. Benzodiazepines were the issue in the UK’s largest ever class action lawsuit.

It would not be surprising if iomazenil is effective in getting people to stop drinking alcohol while they’re taking the drug. But what would keep them from going back to it once the drug isn’t given? The entire concept is clearly flawed. Replacing one addiction with another is surely not the solution.