How the body's cannabis-like system (endocannabinoids) affects alcohol problems and withdrawal pain
Endocannabinoid Mechanisms in the Pathophysiology of Alcohol Use Disorders
Looks at whether boosting a natural brain chemical called 2-AG can reduce the extra pain people with alcohol use disorder feel during withdrawal.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324549 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use mouse models that mimic alcohol withdrawal and increased pain, then give drugs that raise levels of the natural brain chemical 2-AG to see if pain is reduced. They will test whether these pain-reducing effects work through the brain's cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) and will study changes in the amygdala, a brain region tied to emotion and pain. The team will also lower 2-AG in some experiments to see if that makes withdrawal pain worse, helping clarify whether 2-AG normally counteracts withdrawal-related pain. Results will help decide if targeting 2-AG is a promising path toward treatments for people with alcohol use disorder and co-occurring pain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with alcohol use disorder who experience increased pain during withdrawal, especially those with long-term or chronic pain, would be the most likely candidates for future treatments based on this work.
Not a fit: People without alcohol use disorder, or those whose withdrawal does not involve increased pain, are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that ease withdrawal-related pain and lower the chance of relapse for people with alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and some clinical reports on cannabis-related pain relief support the concept, but applying 2-AG targeting to alcohol-withdrawal pain is mainly experimental and supported by preclinical data.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patel, Sachin — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Patel, Sachin
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.