New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder affects about 29 million American adults. Current treatment includes behavioral therapy, mutual support groups, and three FDA-approved medications — naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram — which help about one in four people who take them. Researchers are now testing drugs that may work better and reach the larger group who don't respond to existing options.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing drugs that act on specific brain circuits involved in craving and reward, including medications originally developed for other conditions. Research is exploring personalized approaches based on genetic and brain imaging markers that might predict who responds to which treatment. Scientists are also studying medications that reduce alcohol's harmful effects on the liver and brain while people work toward cutting back.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on drinking frequency, liver function, other substance use, and whether someone can safely reduce alcohol while taking study medication.

What types of trials are currently open

• Medication trials — Testing drugs that reduce craving, heavy drinking days, or alcohol's reinforcing effects. Most compare a new drug to placebo while people receive counseling.
• Combination trials — Testing whether combining two medications works better than one alone. Common combinations include naltrexone with other drugs targeting different brain systems.
• Harm reduction trials — Testing medications that protect the liver or brain from alcohol damage while people work on reducing their drinking. These don't require complete abstinence.
• Biomarker studies — Using genetic tests, brain scans, or other markers to match people with the treatment most likely to work for them.
• Digital intervention trials — Testing smartphone apps, virtual therapy, or digital monitoring tools that help people track and reduce drinking between medical visits.