New research from Scripps Research Institute suggests that chronic alcohol consumption can increase pain sensitivity through two molecular mechanisms. The study, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, found that more than half of people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) experience persistent pain, including alcoholic neuropathy. During alcohol withdrawal, those with AUD can experience allodynia, in which a harmless stimulus is perceived as painful. The researchers identified potential new drug targets for treating alcohol-related chronic pain and are continuing to study how these molecules might be used to diagnose or treat alcohol-related chronic pain conditions. Over time, AUD can also trigger the development of chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and some cancers.
