Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
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The Sinclair Method is a method of treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) developed by Dr. John D. Sinclair.4 It is a medication-assisted treatment for alcoholism.
The Sinclair Method combines continued alcohol consumption with the prescription drug, Naltrexone.4 Naltrexone reduces the pleasure of alcohol, which can help people cut back or quit drinking.
Unlike most traditional alcohol dependence treatments, the Sinclair Method allows alcoholics to continue drinking alcohol at the start of treatment. It is not an abstinence-based treatment plan.4
In this article, you’ll learn how the Sinclair Method works, how successful the Sinclair Method is, and what other alternative treatments are available to you.
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The Sinclair Method utilizes the medication Naltrexone. Naltrexone is a non-addictive, FDA-approved prescription drug that helps people quit or cut back on drinking. It also helps prevent relapse.
With the medication, alcohol no longer gives them the same pleasure. Without that pleasure, they may not drink so much.6
The goal of the Sinclair Method is for the person to willingly change their drinking habits instead of trying to quit drinking cold turkey.
The Sinclair Method differs from abstinence-based treatments because the patient can continue drinking. In fact, it argues that abstinence does not work. This is because an alcohol-dependent person’s brain will not rest until they have an alcoholic drink.6
Naltrexone has been FDA-approved for alcohol addiction since 1994. Most insurance plans also cover it.6
It blocks your body’s naturally occurring endorphins when you consume alcohol. This stops the rewarding buzz feeling that some alcoholics experience.6
Naltrexone has very few side effects, but some include5:
Talk to your doctor to decide whether or not the Sinclair Method is right for you. The Sinclair Method may not be for you if:
On the contrary, the Sinclair Method is most effective for the following people:
Consult your doctor about whether or not the Sinclair Method to eliminate alcohol addiction will be safe or likely effective for you.
They’ll connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor
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Ironically, for the Sinclair Method to work, the patient has to continue consuming alcohol.
The Sinclair Method is considered a relatively successful one. It is deemed to be about 78% effective.1
More specifically, the Sinclair Method was effective in more than 90 clinical trials across the globe.10 It was also effective in about 80% of problem drinkers worldwide.10
In some European countries, the Sinclair Method is considered a standard treatment. In the United States, acceptance is still growing.
Critics argue that the Sinclair Method is only successful with monitoring alcoholism. Some also argue that people with alcohol problems may not hold themselves accountable for taking Naltrexone when they want to drink.
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Not all rehabilitation centers endorse the Sinclair Method. This is largely because it neglects to address the mental toll that alcoholism can have on a person.
Most rehab programs reinforce sobriety. Unlike the Sinclair Method, rehab centers also treat the other side effects of alcoholism, like anxiety and depression. Ultimately, rehabilitation centers offer a more holistic approach to healing from alcohol addiction than simply making alcohol seem less appealing.
While the Sinclair Method may work for some people, it is not for everyone. Fortunately, there are many other ways to treat alcohol addiction, too. Three alternative treatments for alcoholism include:7, 8
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