Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized
by a strong physiological and psychological craving to consume large amounts
of alcohol despite adverse consequences. Alcohol use disorder carries a large health and
economic burden on society. Despite its prevalence, AUD is still severely undertreated.
The precise molecular mechanisms of how alcohol addiction forms are yet unknown.
However, previous studies on animal models show that along with the μ-opioid receptors,
the D2R dopamine receptors may also be involved in alcohol craving and reward
pathways. Currently, there is a limited number of treatment strategies for alcohol use disorder,
which include several medications and therapy. By understanding the limitations
of current treatment options and exploring new potential targets, it could be possible to
find more effective ways of treating AUD in the future.
Keywords:
Alcohol, alcohol use disorder, alcohol dependence treatment, dopamine receptors, opioid receptors, D2R dopamine receptors.
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