Addiction Alcohol Use NIAAA Funds Research in Alcohol and Alcoholism By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial process Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE on May 01, 2021 John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learn about our Review Board John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE on May 01, 2021 Print NIAAA Funds 90% of All Alcohol Research. © Getty Images With the support of NIAAA, scientists at medical centers and universities throughout the country are studying alcoholism. The goal of this research is to develop more effective ways of treating and preventing alcohol problems. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Today, NIAAA funds approximately 90 percent of all alcoholism research in the United States. Some of the more exciting investigations include: Genetic Research Scientists are now studying 3,000 individuals from several hundred families with a history of alcoholism in order to pinpoint the location of genes that influence vulnerability to alcoholism. This new knowledge will help identify individuals at high risk for alcoholism and also will pave the way for the development of new treatments for alcohol-related problems. Other research is investigating the ways in which genetic and environmental factors combine to cause alcoholism. How Genetics Plays a Role in Alcoholism Treatment Approaches NIAAA also sponsored a study called Project MATCH, which tested whether treatment outcome could be improved by matching patients to three types of treatment based on particular individual characteristics. This study found that all three types of treatment reduced drinking markedly in the year following treatment. New Medications Studies supported by NIAAA have led to the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the medication naltrexone (ReVia) for the treatment of alcoholism. When used in combination with counseling, this prescription drug lessens the craving for alcohol in many people and helps prevent a return to heavy drinking. Naltrexone is the first medication approved in 45 years to help alcoholics stay sober after they detoxify from alcohol. Medications Used to Treat Alcoholism Preventing Alcohol Problems In addition to these efforts, NIAAA is sponsoring promising research in other vital areas, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol's effects on the brain and other organs, aspects of drinkers' environments that may contribute to alcohol abuse and alcoholism, strategies to reduce alcohol-related problems, and new treatment techniques. Together, these investigations will help to prevent alcohol problems, identify alcohol abuse and alcoholism at earlier stages, and make available new, more effective treatment approaches for individuals and families. Preventing Alcohol Use Disorders in Society NIAAA Research Advances Since 1970, the NIAAA has been the lead Federal agency responsible for scientific research on alcohol and its effects. Some of the agency's key contributions include: The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions Research to identify the genes linked to alcoholism Creation of the Collaborative Studies on Genetics of Alcoholism Exploring the effects of alcohol on fetal development Supporting a medications development program Research on preventing alcohol problems through community programs Production of award-winning clinician training materials Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Publons. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Genetics of Alcohol Use Disorder. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). NIAAA Reports Project MATCH Main Findings. Published December 17, 1996. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Medications Development Program. Updated December 2019. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Major Initiatives. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). History of NIAAA. Speak to a Therapist for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.