Alcohol Cravings and Cutting Back: How Naltrexone Can Help

Join Coach Kevin Bellack and Coach Frank Spinelli, MD, one of Reframe's trauma-informed health coaches, for a guest-free deep dive into the medical side of changing your relationship with alcohol. In this episode, they unpack Reframe Med and the growing role of medical interventions in cutting back or quitting drinking.

The conversation centers on naltrexone: what it is, how it works to blunt alcohol's effects by blocking the brain's reward system, and why it's most effective when paired with behavioral change. Kevin and Frank talk through who might benefit, what the research says about combining medication with coaching and community support, common side effects, contraindications, and the important reminder that no medication is a "magic pill." They also explore the different ways people use naltrexone depending on their goals, whether that's going alcohol-free or cutting back.

From there, they look ahead to GLP-1 medications, an emerging area of research for alcohol use disorder, and discuss how these drugs may quiet cravings the same way they quiet "food noise." Along the way, Kevin shares his own honest experience getting started, and the two dig into why tools like medication and AI so often get dismissed as "cheating" rather than embraced as legitimate resources.

Whether or not medication is right for you, this episode offers a clear, judgment-free look at what's available so you can make informed decisions or better support someone you care about.

Please note: nothing in this podcast is medical or mental health advice. Always consult your healthcare provider about what's right for you.

The Reframeable podcast is brought to you by the Reframe app. Reframe is the #1 app to help you cut back or quit drinking alcohol. It uses neuroscience to reframe your relationship with alcohol and unlock the healthiest, happiest you. If you're enjoying this podcast, please like, subscribe, and share with those that you feel may benefit from it. If you have a topic you'd like us to cover on the podcast, send an email to podcast@reframeapp.com or, if you're on the Reframe app, give it a shake and let us know what you want to hear.