Sinclair Method

Drink yourself sober

Successful treatment using TSM requires a prescription drug called naltrexone (Revia) to be taken orally one hour before drinking alcohol.  Due to the effects of blocking the opiate receptors, the naltrexone causes a “pharmacological extinction” of the reward system a person normally experiences when drinking without first taking the medication.  The process of extinction with TSM allows an alcoholic to decrease their alcohol consumption to the point where they can eventually have one or two drinks with dinner, essentially becoming a responsible drinker.  

Most alcoholics and people that have lived with a problem drinker don’t believe that a problem drinker could ever “learn” to drink responsibly.  If you are reading this, we suggest you suspend your disbelief and read all the information contained on this website.  Your life or the life of your loved one may depend on it.

Our office has seen many incredible successes in people that have:

Failed or relapsed many times using conventional 12-step programs and abstinence

Never pursued treatment because they didn’t want or knew they couldn’t be alcohol-free for the rest of their life

Finally realized their drinking was getting out of control but they didn’t want to pursue a conventional alcohol addiction program

Alcoholism is a learned behavior

TSM was developed by Dr. David Sinclair who believed that alcoholism is a learned behavior.  To create a successful treatment, Dr. Sinclair used the classical conditioning and extinction model made famous by the Russian scientist, Ivan Pavlov. 

In Pavlov’s experiment, he rang a bell immediately before providing food to his dogs.  After a period of conditioning the dog's salivary response, Pavlov would simply ring the bell and the dogs would salivate even before the food was given.  Eventually, Pavlov stopped giving food after ringing the bell and observed the dogs slowly stopped salivating.  The process of unlearning a previously conditioned response has become known as extinction

Extinction of alcoholic behavior

Dr. Sinclair believed he could cause the extinction of alcoholic behavior by blocking the response the patient receives from drinking.  He found a drug called naltrexone blocked the opioid receptors and the resultant release of the pleasure neurotransmitter dopamine. 

Alcoholics using the Sinclair Method will slowly decrease their consumption of alcohol.  After an alcoholic reduces their level of consumption, approximately 25% choose to become abstinent.  Others choose to have an occasional social drink and can do so without relapsing into the patterns of their previous addictive behavior.

• STEP ONE - Educate yourself and your entire support network on TSM.  Be open and willing to look at alcohol use disorder and your treatment in an entirely new paradigm.   Read all the information on this website, watch Claudia Christian’s Tedx Talk video and her documentary “One Little Pill,” and read Roy Askapa’s Book “The Cure For Alcoholism.”

• STEP TWO -  Take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).  Google AUDIT pdf and print out a copy and complete the self-assessment.  A score of 8 or more is consistent with hazardous or dangerous alcohol use.  

• STEP THREE - Schedule an appointment with Dr. Nelson by calling us at 602-692-4626.  Please bring the result of your AUDIT test and a copy of your most recent blood work (CBC and CMP taken within last 60 days).  After evaluating your intake, blood work, and physical exam, Dr. Nelson may provide you with a prescription for your Naltrexone on your first visit if appropriate.

• STEP FOUR - After receiving your prescription, simply take the Naltrexone one hour before drinking alcohol.  Keep track of your consumption in a journal.  

• STEP FIVE - Follow-up appointment will be in 2-4 weeks to answer any questions and help with any problems.  Continue to take your Naltrexone before you drink.  Some patients may eventually choose to stop drinking completely.  Patients feeling anxious, depressed, or experiencing other mood challenges may choose to work with Dr. Nelson on a neurotransmitter recovery program using natural supplements.  They will be advised to begin therapy, counseling, and/or group work with an addiction therapist.