Publication Date: January 7, 2026
This health feature explores naltrexone, a decades-old FDA-approved medication gaining renewed attention as an alternative treatment for reducing alcohol consumption. The article features Jessica Steinman, Chief Clinical Officer at No Matter What Recovery in Los Angeles, as a key expert source discussing the medication’s benefits and limitations. Steinman describes naltrexone as “an incredibly helpful and life-saving tool” for people struggling with alcohol use disorder, explaining how it works by affecting the brain’s reward center to block the rewarding effects of alcohol and minimize cravings. She contextualizes the medication within broader societal trends, noting that “many people are looking to get medication-assisted help from overconsumption of certain things or behaviors, including food, cigarettes and now alcohol.” Steinman emphasizes that naltrexone “can assist in telling the brain that alcohol isn’t wanted” and may help those with a “healthy” relationship with alcohol who want to cut back on drinking behaviors. However, she provides an important clinical caveat for those with alcohol use disorder or dependence: “We do not suggest moderation in any way for people struggling with alcohol use disorder or any type of dependence to alcohol or other substances. We do not believe drinking ‘less’ is a solution.” The article addresses the significant public health crisis of alcohol consumption in America, where more than 50% of adults drink, 17% are binge-drinkers, and approximately 178,000 deaths annually are linked to excessive alcohol use.
Read the full article on Fox News.
