the alcohol field is struggling with a relatively new dynamic; it is becoming clear that alcohol use can have beneficial as well as damaging influences on health [82] and this makes a proper perspective on alcohol and health more complex than before. However, the vast majority of researchers in this field caution that the potential benefits are generally outweighed by the potential dangers of addiction and abuse which might be present in certain individuals. Current treatments available for alcoholism have shown only limited success and include both behavioral approaches, such as 12-step programs, and pharmacological approaches using drugs, such as naltrexone and acamprosate [83]. The identification of promising gene targets, such as the BK (slo) gene, as well as several other genes emerging from genetic screens in animal models and human studies will provide new approaches for treatment of alcoholism, as well as prognostic information potentially helpful in prevention (Box 2).
