The Endocannabinoid Signal Linked to Wanting Alcohol Was Suppressed in Abstinent Alcoholics
In healthy social drinkers, alcohol cue imagery increased blood anandamide levels and correlated with alcohol craving, but this endocannabinoid signal was absent in recently abstinent alcoholics who had markedly reduced baseline anandamide.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers compared endocannabinoid responses in 11 healthy social drinkers and 12 recently abstinent alcoholics during guided imagery of alcohol cues, stress, and neutral relaxation.
In social drinkers, alcohol cue imagery specifically increased circulating anandamide levels (neutral and stress imagery did not). Baseline anandamide was negatively correlated with craving, while cue-triggered anandamide increases were positively correlated with craving and heart rate changes.
In abstinent alcoholics, no imagery condition triggered anandamide mobilization. Their baseline anandamide levels were markedly reduced compared to healthy drinkers and showed no correlation with craving or heart rate.
This suggests the endocannabinoid system participates in normal alcohol desire but becomes dysregulated in alcoholism.
Key Numbers
11 social drinkers and 12 abstinent alcoholics. Alcohol cue imagery increased anandamide in social drinkers but not alcoholics. Baseline anandamide was markedly reduced in alcoholics.
How They Did This
Laboratory study using guided imagery procedures (stress, alcohol cue, neutral) in 11 healthy social drinkers and 12 treatment-engaged abstinent alcoholics. Blood anandamide levels, alcohol craving, heart rate, and anxiety were measured.
Why This Research Matters
This was one of the first studies to directly link endocannabinoid levels to alcohol craving in humans, suggesting the endocannabinoid system may be a target for treating alcohol use disorders.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that alcoholics have suppressed endocannabinoid signaling connects to broader evidence that chronic substance use can dysregulate the endocannabinoid system. This dysregulation may contribute to the altered motivational states seen in addiction.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very small sample sizes (11 and 12). Cross-sectional design cannot determine whether low anandamide preceded alcoholism or resulted from it. Plasma anandamide may not reflect brain endocannabinoid levels. Recently abstinent alcoholics may differ from active drinkers.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does endocannabinoid dysregulation precede alcoholism or result from chronic alcohol use?
- ?Could endocannabinoid-targeting medications help reduce alcohol craving?
- ?Do cannabis users show similar endocannabinoid system changes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Anandamide response to alcohol cues was present in social drinkers but absent in alcoholics
- Evidence Grade:
- Small cross-sectional study (n=23 total) measuring a novel biomarker. Preliminary but the first to directly link endocannabinoid levels to human alcohol craving.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2009. The relationship between the endocannabinoid system and alcohol use disorders has continued to be studied, with growing evidence supporting endocannabinoid dysregulation in addiction.
- Original Title:
- An endocannabinoid signal associated with desire for alcohol is suppressed in recently abstinent alcoholics.
- Published In:
- Psychopharmacology, 205(1), 63-72 (2009)
- Authors:
- Mangieri, Regina A, Hong, Kwang-Ik A, Piomelli, Daniele(13), Sinha, Rajita
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00373
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What does this tell us about cannabis and alcohol?
The study shows that the endocannabinoid system (which cannabis acts on) is naturally involved in alcohol desire. Chronic alcohol use appears to dysregulate this system, which could partly explain why some people use cannabis to manage alcohol-related issues.
Could this lead to new alcoholism treatments?
Potentially. If endocannabinoid dysregulation contributes to persistent alcohol craving, medications that normalize endocannabinoid signaling could theoretically help. However, this would require clinical trials to validate.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00373APA
Mangieri, Regina A; Hong, Kwang-Ik A; Piomelli, Daniele; Sinha, Rajita. (2009). An endocannabinoid signal associated with desire for alcohol is suppressed in recently abstinent alcoholics.. Psychopharmacology, 205(1), 63-72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1518-3
MLA
Mangieri, Regina A, et al. "An endocannabinoid signal associated with desire for alcohol is suppressed in recently abstinent alcoholics.." Psychopharmacology, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1518-3
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "An endocannabinoid signal associated with desire for alcohol..." RTHC-00373. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/mangieri-2009-an-endocannabinoid-signal-associated
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.