Participants (N=302, ages 18-50) were randomized to double-blind NAC (1200mg, twice daily) or placebo. Participants that returned for at least one treatment visit and had recorded alcohol use data (total drinks per week, drinking days per week, and binge drinking days per week) were included in this analysis (n=277).
Results found that participants in the NAC group, compared to the placebo group, had increased odds of between-visit alcohol abstinence, fewer drinks per week, and fewer drinking days per week. The increase in odds of complete abstinence of alcohol was 37% in the NAC group. The NAC group was also 33% less likely to increase their number of drinks, compared to the placebo group, and their drinking days were 31% less than those on placebo as well.
NAC did not affect the number of binge drinking days, however participants were, on average, binge drinking fewer than one time per month, so a significant decrease may be hard to detect in this sample. Age, sex, and race did not affect findings.
Conclusions: Though the original study found that NAC was not effective in reducing cannabis use in an adult sample, this secondary analysis suggests that it may be effective in reducing alcohol use by approximately 30% among treatment-seeking adults with CUD, suggesting a need for further trials focused on the effects of NAC on alcohol consumption.
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