Potential to Surpass the Success of 12-Step Programs?

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine claim they've identified two genes linked to binge drinking, which could lead to more effective treatments for alcoholism, according to a university press release. The study, recently published in PNAS, shows that when researchers manipulated GABA receptors and toll-like receptor 4 in the brain, binge drinking behaviors in rodents that had been bred to drink "excessively" were reduced. According to the university release, "The new study found that treatments that manipulate both the GABA receptor and toll-like receptor 4 have the potential to reduce anxiety and control cravings, with little to no risk for addiction."