Strange Addiction Treatments Throughout History (E47)
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Gill discusses addiction treatments throughout history. If you’re wondering what snake pits, lobotomies, LSD and gold injections have in common, then you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode only covers treatments from ancient times up to the 1950's when pharmaceutical treatments were developed. Gill ends the episode by giving a brief explanation of how the 3 FDA approved drugs for alcohol abuse (Antabuse, Naltrexone, and Campral) work in the brain.
Key Takeaways
Addiction wasn’t understood and people who struggled with their drinking were considered weak-willed potential criminals. In ancient times, people considered to be alcoholics were thrown into snake pits with the idea being that the snakes would scare them out of their addiction. Alcoholics also had worms and other critters put in their alcohol, hoping to gross them out and make them want to stop drinking.
One of the earliest medical treatments was developed by Dr. Leslie Keeley. He began Keeley Double Gold Cures in the 1870s, opening more than 120 centers in North America and Europe. He believed that alcohol addiction resulted from damage to nerve cells from alcohol, which in turn weakened the victim’s willpower. The FDA investigated his centers in 1905 discovering that his cure contained morphine, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine. His institutes all shut down in 1966.
There are currently 3 FDA approved pharmaceuticals for the treatment of alcohol addiction- Antabuse, Naltrexone, and Campral. Antabuse interferes with the enzymes that process alcohol, making you feel very sick when you drink. Naltrexone blocks the binding of endorphins to opioid receptors, preventing dopamine from being released, so drinking doesn’t feel pleasurable. Campral helps minimize withdrawal symptoms and may reduce cravings.
Sources
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White, W. (1998). “Significant Events in the History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America.” Chestnut Health Systems.
Hamby, W.B. M.D., Mason, T.H. M.D. (April 1948). “Relief of Morphine Addiction by Prefrontal Lobotomy.” The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Desert Hope. “History of Drug Treatment” 2020
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Medication for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Brief Guide. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 15-4907. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2015.
Cornerstone of Recovery. The History of Addiction and Addiction Treatment. 2018.
IUPUI. Indiana Eugeneics. History and Legacy 1907-2007.
State of Indiana. (1907). Laws of the State of Indiana.
Kersten, L. (2014, March 14). Indiana passes first eugenic sterilization statute in the United States.
Philip R. Reilly. Eugenics and Involuntary Sterilization: 1907–2015. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics 2015 16:1, 351-368
White, W. (1998). Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America. Bloomington, IL: Chestnut Health Systems.
White, W. (2014). Brain Surgery as Addiction Treatment? Selected Papers of William L. White.
SAMHSA. Evidence for the Efficacy of Naltrexone in the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence (Alcoholism). Addiction Treatment Forum. 2002.
Talchekar, A. Timeline: History of Addiction Treatment. (2020) Recovery.org.
Nickell, J. Historic “Gold Cure” for Addiction. (2016) Center for Inquiry.
Wright, P. O’Neill, M. 39-Psychopharmacology. Core Psychiatry (Third Edition) 2012, Pages 585-615
Bloom, J. Antabuse - A Very Good Pill To Stop Drinking, But Don't Cheat. (2018) American Council on Science and Health.
Cite this episode
Tietz, G. Episode 47: Strange Addiction Treatments Throughout History. Sober Powered. 2021.
