Beijing (EFE).- A Chinese patient with alcoholism problems became the first recipient in China of a surgically implanted chip designed to inhibit the urge to consume alcohol.
The 36-year-old man, surnamed Liu, underwent a five-minute operation in mid-April in Hunan province (center) as part of a clinical trial supervised by the former vice president of the International Narcotics Control Board. of the UN, Hao Wei, reported today the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post.
The implant is expected to fight Liu’s urge to drink for five months, Hao was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
The device releases naltrexone into the body, a substance commonly used in addiction treatment to prevent relapse.
The patient, an alcoholic for about 15 years, consumes approximately half a liter of liquor each day.
His routine consists of starting to drink before breakfast and continuing throughout the day until he loses consciousness at nightfall, which has caused him numerous health problems.
Liu declared his hope to “enjoy a life free of alcohol,” a substance that has “destroyed his personal relationships,” the newspaper reported.
According to a study by the scientific publication “The Lancet”, China recorded just over 700,000 deaths in 2017 from alcohol-related causes, 650,000 of which were men.