Archive · 15 Jan 2026
Naltrexone drug curbs multiple addictions
Doctors have found that a drug called Naltrexone can help people with different kinds of addictions.
Normally, this drug is used to help people drink less alcohol.
It works by stopping the brain from feeling happy when someone drinks alcohol or takes drugs like heroin.
New research shows that this drug can also help people who are addicted to shopping, gambling, or even scrolling on their phones too much.
The drug does this by blocking certain parts of the brain that make these activities feel so good.
This means people might not want to do these things as much.
Experts are excited because this could mean the drug can be used to help with many different addictions, not just alcohol.
Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors in the brain, reducing cravings and pleasurable effects of addictive substances and behaviors.
The drug is primarily used to treat alcohol addiction but can also help with gambling, shopping, and scrolling addictions.
Naltrexone works by binding to opioid receptors, preventing the activation of reward pathways in the brain.
New research shows the drug can tame other addictive behaviors that use the same brain pathways as alcohol.
Experts are encouraging the prospects of its 'off-label' use for various addictions.
- Who
- Dr. Astik Joshi, psychiatrist at Fortis Hospital, Delhi
- What
- Naltrexone drug can curb multiple addictions
- When
- Not specified
- Where
- Fortis Hospital, Delhi
- Why
- Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors, reducing cravings and pleasurable effects
- Drug
- Naltrexone
- Function
- Blocks opioid receptors in the brain
- Effect
- Reduces cravings and pleasurable effects of addictive substances and behaviors
- Addictions Treated
- Alcohol, gambling, shopping, scrolling
- Mechanism
- Binds to opioid receptors, preventing activation of reward pathways
- Research Focus
- Off-label use for various addictions
- Expert
- Dr. Astik Joshi, psychiatrist at Fortis Hospital, Delhi