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University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Studies of Addiction Receives Research Funds

Bridport, VT – January 6, 2012 – The Foundation for Alcoholism Research, Inc. (FAR) has awarded its second grant. In a letter dated December 20, 2011 to Charles P. O’Brien at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Studies of Addiction (CSA), FAR awarded $5,500 to supplement grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

PHOTO: Dr. O'Brien and Peg Calder at the Center for Studies of Addiction at the University of Pennsylvania.

Charles O’Brien, M.D, Ph.D., Director of the CSA, and his research group have been responsible for numerous discoveries on the nature of addiction and improved treatments; many of these discoveries are now utilized in common practice throughout the world.

Two of the current studies involve the use of naltrexone, which greatly reduces craving in approximately 15% - 25% of those with alcohol dependence. The current studies are aimed at predicting, via DNA analysis, whether someone will benefit from naltrexone.

The FAR funds will be directed at assisting the CSA in recruiting subjects for the trials and for associated costs of interpreting the data derived from the studies. FAR is pleased to be a part of such important work and looks forward to continuing support in this area.

The amount of the award is significantly larger than FAR’s first award as this young organization (begun in 2008) continues to grow. The first award went to Prof. Kim Cronise, Neuroscientist at Middlebury College studying the tolerance aspects of alcoholism.

The work being done at CSA is much needed and long overdue. CSA and it directors are to be applauded for acknowledging the need and taking the necessary steps to implement the studies. In these terrible economic times, it is gratifying that we can make a difference in the understanding and treatment of alcoholism, which affects one in 12 Americans directly and untold numbers indirectly, says Peg Calder, President of FAR.

According to the NIH alcoholism afflicts 17.6 million people in the US, making it the third most prevalent disease, behind heart disease at 61 million, and diabetes at 23.6 million, with cancer fourth at 11 million.

The afflicted, the children, the spouse, the parents, the siblings, the relatives, friends, neighbors, health professionals, law enforcement, accident victims, justice system, community, workplace, government, .... Let’s all help find solutions. Support FAR!

• The Foundation for Alcoholism Research (FAR) was formed by several people who are concerned about the limited help for people with the disease of alcoholism.
  
  
• The founders are not professional health care givers and do not attempt to provide the answers to the myriad questions about this disease. The answers to these questions vary widely within the research, medical, and psychiatric communities.
  
  
• When we look at the progress in other areas of medicine such as cancer, heart disease, and AIDS, we realize that they each have non-profit organizations to accelerate advances. These organizations make a difference in several ways. They sponsor research themselves; they raise awareness so that the government sponsors more research; and they make us partners in prevention by educating the public on research findings.
  
  
• We have never been asked for ONE DOLLAR for alcoholism, and yet it affects families in ways that other diseases do not. People LOSE their families, both the addicted and the non-addicted. Children are kept from their mothers and fathers; others are born with fetal alcohol syndrome. The justice system is bogged down with addiction consequences. Stores are robbed; innocent people are injured or killed in car accidents. Workers have to pick up the slack.
  
  
• It seems as if the solution is simple, alcoholics should just stop drinking. If it WERE that simple, it would have happened by now.
  No one chooses to be an alcoholic.
  
  
• We seek better answers for those afflicted, their families and the community.