The Pharmacology of Alcohol Abuse (Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, 114)

In recent years alcohol abuse has received increased international attention. Such attention is justified by the enormous negative impact that this disorder has on health, as well as on economic and social well-being. Governmental and other sources of research support have promoted substantial investigation into the negative consequences of alcohol, examining both animal models and human subjects. Consequently, there has been a virtual explosion of preclinical and clinical data, much of it focused on alcohol's pharmacologic effects. However, there have been few efforts to integrate this wealth of new information into a single, manageable volume. This volume provides an up-to-date, in-depth treatment of the phar­ macology of alcohol, particularly as it relates to alcohol abuse. The over­ riding theme of the book is the interplay between the preclinical and clinical domains. Increasingly, these areas of investigation have served to inform one another, a trend that can be expected to grow with time. The topics covered include the effects of alcohol on biological systems and the impact of medications on those effects. In addition, recent insights obtained from molecular biological investigations are discussed in terms of their relevance for understanding the effects of alcohol at the cellular level and the implica­ tions of these for the development of medications. Consideration is also given to important methodological issues that influence the evaluation of medications in the context of clinical trials. Front Matter....Pages I-XXVI The Pharmacology of Alcohol Abuse: An Introduction....Pages 1-10 Alcohol-Induced Changes in Neuronal Membranes....Pages 11-53 Effects of Ethanol on Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channel Function....Pages 55-73 Effects of Alcohol on Excitatory Amino Acid Receptor Function....Pages 75-102 Effects of Alcohol on GABA-Mediated Neurotransmission....Pages 103-119 Involvement of CNS Catecholamines in Alcohol Self-Administration, Tolerance and Dependence: Preclinical Studies....Pages 121-137 5-HT Mediation of Alcohol Self-Administration, Tolerance and Dependence: Pre-Clinical Studies....Pages 139-168 Opioid Mediation of Alcohol Self-Administration: Pre-Clinical Studies....Pages 169-184 Animal Models of the Alcohol Addiction Process....Pages 185-229 Ethanol and Neurohormonal Regulation....Pages 231-260 Clinical Application of Findings from Animal Research on Alcohol Self-Administration and Dependence....Pages 261-295 Genetic Factors in Alcoholism: Evidence and Implications....Pages 297-313 Pharmacotherapy and Pathophysiology of Alcohol Withdrawal....Pages 315-367 Drugs to Decrease Alcohol Consumption in Humans: Aversive Agents....Pages 369-381 Drugs Attenuating Alcohol Consumption in Humans Through Effects on Various Neurotransmitter Systems....Pages 383-393 Pharmacology of Gastrointestinal Comorbidity in Alcoholics....Pages 395-413 Drugs for the Treatment of Psychiatric Comorbidity in Alcoholics: Recent Developments....Pages 415-441 Clinical Markers of Alcohol Abuse....Pages 443-473 Interaction of Alcohol With Therapeutic Drugs and Drugs of Abuse....Pages 475-512 Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Theoretical and Methodological Perspectives....Pages 513-537 Back Matter....Pages 539-549 The subject of the book is the pharmacology of ethanol. It brings together the work of both basic and clinical investigators in the pharmacology of alcohol and alcohol abuse. It is comprehensive in its scope, with a major focus on the integration of findings from different levels of analysis. In addition, recent insights from molecular biology are discussed in terms of their relevance for understanding ethanol's effects and their implications for the development of medications. The main benefit the reader will derive from the book is an up-to-date, in-depth treatment of the field, with a particular focus on how research findings from diverse approaches may be integrated and how these findings may influence future investigations