A great story about progress in treating alcoholism featuring a Rhode Island man.

CENTRAL FALLS, Rhode Island (CNN) — A no-frills bar called Goober’s, just north of Providence, Rhode Island, is probably the last place you’d expect to find a debate over cutting-edge addiction therapy. But this is where Walter Kent, a retired mechanic, spends his Fridays. He helps in the kitchen and hangs out in the bar, catching up with old friends.

Most addiction specialists would call this playing with fire, or worse. That’s because for more than 30 years, Kent was a hard-core alcoholic. His drinks of choice were Heineken beer and Jacob Ginger brandy, but anything with alcohol would do. (more)

The article follows a study of Naltrexone and Topiramate for treatment of alcoholic craving. The pills, plus therapy, had good results.

I don’t think there will ever be a one-size-fits-all cure for addiction, or one approach to behavior change that works for everyone, but new tools for recovery are welcome. We have a nicotine patch, which helps smokers, and Methodone helps many people live normal lives by reducing their craving for opiates. Replacing a drug with a drug is far from perfect, but if it helps some people then we are all better off.