Alcohol Substitute in Development

Posted on January 6, 2010 in Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine, Recent Studies

Imagine a substance that could mimic the relaxing effects of alcohol—and then allow you to “switch it off” to avoid impairment while driving home. A research team at Imperial College London is developing a synthetic alcohol that comes with an antidote, leaving the drinker completely sober.

The substance is being developed from chemicals related to Valium. While the synthetic alcohol provides relaxation, it does not affect parts of the brain that control mood swings and lead to addiction. Because the additive is tasteless and colorless, people could enjoy their favorite drinks without noticing a difference.

Professor David Nutt and his colleagues believe that the synthetic alcohol could dramatically minimize disasters associated with drinking. The abuse of alcohol has been linked with fatal fires, domestic abuse and vehicular accidents.

Getting the drug approved could be difficult, since clinical trials can be costly. The traditional alcohol industry has not shown any interest as of yet. However, Nutt believes that some countries might be won over by the potential benefits of such a substance.