Inside STAT: With ketamine, researchers rewrite memories in bid to curb drinking

Our memories are immensely powerful. For people with alcohol use disorder, simple environmental cues such as walking past a favorite bar can trigger memories that can drive an urge for a drink. But our memories are also surprisingly pliable. Scientists are now trying to curb harmful drinking by dredging up memories and rewriting them — with the help of a dose of ketamine, which they hope can stop alcohol-associated memories from being properly stored away again in the brain. A small, preliminary new study suggests the approach might hold potential in decreasing heavy drinking. STAT’s Megan Thielking has the story here.