Introduction

 

The drug naltrexone has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of opiate addiction since 1984 and for the treatment of alcohol problems since 1994. Although many doctors have prescribed naltrexone for alcohol problems since it was approved by the FDA, naltrexone has not proven very effective when prescribed according to the FDA’s recommendation to take it daily while abstaining from alcohol.

 

However, David Sinclair PhD, a research scientist working in Finland, has discovered a different way of prescribing naltrexone which has shown an 80% success rate with patients who are prescribed naltrexone and a 90% success rate with patients who take the naltrexone as directed. This method of prescribing naltrexone has come to be referred to as The Sinclair Method. 90% of patients who take naltrexone according to The Sinclair Method either quit drinking or become moderate drinkers in the space of three months. No inpatient treatment is required and naltrexone is available in a cheap generic form which makes this not only a highly effective treatment for alcohol problems, but a one of the least expensive as well.

 

What is The Sinclair Method?

 

According to the Sinclair Method patients should only take naltrexone when they intend to drink alcohol and should never take naltrexone when they intend to abstain from alcohol. This is in sharp contrast with the FDA’s recommendation that naltrexone should only be given to patients who promise to abstain from alcohol and that it should be administered daily. Moreover, when naltrexone is taken according to the recommendations of the FDA it is only slightly more effective than a placebo–a sharp contrast with the 90% success rate of The Sinclair Method of using naltrexone. In addition, some research suggests that the only patients who benefit by taking naltrexone as prescribed by FDA guidelines are those who cheat and drink on the naltrexone, and that those who abstain while taking the naltrexone not only have greater alcohol cravings than those who get a placebo–but are also more likely to relapse into severe drinking problems in the long term.

 

The Sinclair method says to take 50 mg of naltrexone one hour before drinking every time that you drink for the rest of your life. Naltrexone taken according to The Sinclair method is safe even for drinkers who are heavily physically dependent on alcohol since the naltrexone causes them to gradually drink less and less per day and thus taper off of the alcohol with no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever.

 

How does The Sinclair Method work?

 

According to David Sinclair, alcohol addiction is a conditioned response. People become conditioned to drink alcohol because of alcohol’s actions in the brain in much the same way that Pavlov’s dogs became conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell. This is because every time that one drinks alcohol, endorphins are released in the brain. Endorphins are chemicals which are responsible for learning new conditioned responses. Normally this is a good thing because the conditioned responses which we learn help us to survive. However, in the case of alcohol addiction, the conditioned response leads people to perpetuate a bad habit. The endorphins which are released into the brain when people drink alcohol reinforce the drinking behavior, and this can lead to addiction to alcohol.

 

Naltrexone totally blocks the effects of endorphins in the brain. If you take naltrexone before drinking alcohol then the drinking behavior will not be reinforced. When a behavior is not reinforced it eventually disappears. Psychologists refer to this process as “extinction”. Since naltrexone is a pharmaceutical, using naltrexone to extinguish drinking behavior is referred to as “pharmacological extinction”. Pharmacological extinction of problem drinking by using naltrexone is The Sinclair Method.

 

When we understand that problem drinking is a conditioned response and that this conditioned response can be extinguished by using naltrexone according to The Sinclair Method, it becomes very obvious why the FDA’s method of using naltrexone is not effective. If a person takes naltrexone every day then the naltrexone will tend to extinguish every pleasurable behavior which results in the release of endorphins, not just drinking behavior. This includes everything pleasurable from reading to jogging to sex. Moreover, if one abstains while taking the naltrexone, then drinking will be the only behavior which is NOT extinguished by the naltrexone.

 

Why Isn’t The Sinclair Method Popular In The United States?

 

Since The Sinclair Method has shown a great deal of success in Finland, why hasn’t it been generally adopted in the United States?

 

There are a couple of reasons that this may be the case. Since naltrexone is now available as a generic, the pharmaceutical companies will not make any major profits by promoting it. Moreover, American addictionologists seem to generally shy away from anything which does not involve complete abstinence and surrender to a “Higher Power”. Moreover the 2009 edition of The Physician’s Desk Reference no longer lists oral naltrexone as available for prescription in the United States–only 30 day implants are available. 20 day naltrexone implants cannot be used for implementing The Sinclair Method. It is unfortunate that our pharmaceutical companies have taken such a giant step backward just at the very time an extremely effective method of using oral naltrexone has been discovered.

 

Fortunately there are a few professionals in the United States who are now promoting The Sinclair method. We can only hope that this grass roots movement will grow and that more and more people we become familiar with The Sinclair Method and put it into practice to help eliminate the alcohol problems which continue to plague the United States.

 

REFERENCES:

 

Anton RF, O’Malley SS, Ciraulo DA, Cisler RA, Couper D, Donovan DM, Gastfriend DR, Hosking JD, Johnson BA, LoCastro JS, Longabaugh R, Mason BJ, Mattson ME, Miller WR, Pettinati HM, Randall CL, Swift R, Weiss RD, Williams LD, Zweben A; COMBINE Study Research Group. (2006). Combined pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions for alcohol dependence: the COMBINE study: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. May 3;295(17):2003-17.

 

Eskapa, R (2008). The Cure for Alcoholism: Drink Your Way Sober Without Willpower, Abstinence or Discomfort. Benbella Books. Dallas, TX.

 

Heinälä P, Alho H, Kiianmaa K, Lönnqvist J, Kuoppasalmi K, Sinclair JD. (2001). Targeted use of naltrexone without prior detoxification in the treatment of alcohol dependence: a factorial double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Jun;21(3):287-92.

 

Medical Economics Co. (2009), Physicians’ desk reference : PDR. Medical Economics Co., Oradell, N.J.

 

Sinclair JD. (2001). Evidence about the use of naltrexone and for different ways of using it in the treatment of alcoholism. Alcohol and Alcoholism.Jan-Feb;36(1):2-10.

Audio Mixer Ic

4 In-4 Out PCI Digital Recording Interface with MIDI / All-in-one HiFi soundcard for multitrack recording to home-theater

The Audiophile 2496 embodies a quantum leap in computer audio fidelity and performance unequaled by other audio cards in its price range. This critically acclaimed PCI card features premium digital audio converters, elegant board design, and ultra-stable drivers just like the rest of the Delta line, but with a simpler I/O configuration. As a member of the Delta family, the Audiophile 2496 supports all computer platforms and major software programs, ensuring seamless integration and rock-solid performance. See why the Audiophile 2496 is one of the best-selling digital audio cards in the industry. One of the best-selling digital audio cards in the industry. Click to enlarge. Includes Ableton Live Lite music production software, so you can make music right away. Click to enlarge. Break-out cable with S/PDIF audio and MIDI. 36-bit Embedded DSP All Delta cards contain a 36-bit embedded DSP enabling a software-driven patchbay/router for all analog and digital I/O–all with extremely fast throughput for low-latency software monitoring. A single unified control panel provides settings for clock and sample rates, buffer sizes, individual signal levels for every input and output, adjustable +4dBu/-10dBV pad controls and digital I/O control on up to four installed Delta cards. All controls are also easily accessible through most professional audio software applications for seamless integration and operation. 2 x 2 Analog I/O Accepts common unbalanced audio on gold-plated RCA jacks. 24-bit/96kHz Fidelity The 2496 features 24-bit/96kHz converters with a 100dB dynamic range. S/PDIF Digital I/O with 2-channel PCM Get CD-quality sound from devices with S/PDIF outputs. SCMS copy protection control Allows a recording device to successfully record the audio data. AC-3 and DTS Pass-Through The S/PDIF digital I/O supports surround-encoded audio, for sending surround sound to your home theater. 1 x 1 MIDI I/O The 2496′s break-out cable features 1 x 1 (16-channel) MIDI operation. Zero-Latency Monitoring Monitor your audio signals without delay. Ableton Live Lite Included Ableton Live Lite delivers much of the functionality of Ableton Live–the revolutionary, multi-award winning music production solution that allows you to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit your musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment. Live brings your acoustic, electronic and virtual instruments–as well as your digital audio recordings and MIDI sequences–together in a single interface with unparalleled ease of use. What’s in the Box Audiophile 2496 PCI adapter card, Break-out cable for S/PDIF and MIDI connections, Software CD, User’s Manual

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Most helpful customer reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
Wonderful 2-channel audio card!
By Big Al
This is TRULY an audiophile 2-channel card. I purchased it to transfer some music on vinyl to digital format from a high-end turntable, and it has done that remarkably well. Another pleasant surprise is the quality of playback on the computer – the subwoofer really ‘came to life’. Even my 128k i-tunes stuff sounds TOTALLY different even on my [high-end] computer speakers.

That being said, here’s some tips:

1) Get & install latest drivers for your OS from the M-Audio website before doing ANYTHING else – then shut down & unplug PC and install the card.

2) Feel free to ignore ALL software in the package – I’m recording & playing back fine without it. Everyone should check out the free “Audacity” recording/editing package.

3) For best results, use good cables. I’m using Audioquest Mini-1 to go from card to computer speakers, and Audioquest G-Snake to go from turntable phono box to the card. These 2 cables (in 2-meter lengths) cost about the same as the card.

4) Can probably co-exist with your previous sound setup – just make sure you go through the various Windows Control Panel areas and define which to use for what. Same is true for most applications – check the preferences to use the right card/audio system.

Also, I’d like to address some ‘negative’ comments I’ve seen here & elsewhere:

A) Comes with old manuals & drivers: TRUE – but website is very complete & up-to-date – they had all Windows variants covered pretty well, except maybe 64-bit Vista.

B) Takes over (removes) Windows volume controls: TRUE – and good riddance! All playback apps have volume controls, plus theres the physical knob on most speakers – who needs more of them interacting and complicating things?

C) No 1/8″ (3.5mm) jacks: TRUE – that connection is for “toys” – this card has gold-plated stereo RCA connectors – plus MIDI & S/PDIF connectors!

D) No surround/gaming modes: TRUE, but can co-exist with another consumer sound card or (as I’m doing) on-board audio (see my tip 4 above).

Bottom line – if 2-channel stereo is your 1st priority – check the website for the drivers you need and, if they have you covered, BUY THIS CARD!!

38 of 49 people found the following review helpful.
Quirky & Manual/CD Totally Out of Date
By guitarman008
I bought my 2496 last week from a reputable mail order vendor. Installation was cumbersome. The “Driver CD” contained no 2496 drivers at all, for Windows or Mac! The manual still refers to a Macintosh installation where you “drag extensions” to the “extentions folder in the system folder.” No mention is made of OSX X! Let’s see, that would make the manual about 3 years old or more. Indeed, the modification date on the pdf version of the user Manual is November, 2001, yet M-Audio continues to ship this driverless Driver CD and outdated Manual with every 2496. They don’t even include a slip of paper directing the purchaser to their Web site for the missing drivers.

I went to M-Audio’s web site and was able to find and easily download the OSX driver (2.04) which was updated in August, 2005. After restarting I was able to get it running, however the standard Apple output volume control is not supported by the 2496 on a Mac. Actually you have NO global output volume control. Volume output is solely via application volume controls, such as the control within iTunes, or via your mixer knobs. This makes it difficult to use as a general purpose sound card.

After about two hours, the driver lost the ability to correctly play back music from iTunes, in mid song. It developed a bad stutter, apparently no longer using the correct bit/sample rate.

Technical support took 4 days, and a phone call from my vendor, to get a respones. The suggestion was to re-download the driver and reinstall it. This worked. But I found that whatever bit/sample rate I would record with in one application would become locked in for all other playback applications. For instance, if I recorded in 24/96 in Amadeus II it would later try to play back Garage Band or iTunes at 24/96 despite many attempts to reset it’s control panel to 16/44.1. The only work around was to relaunch Amadeus, start a new recording at 16/44.1, quit, then relaunch Garage Band or iTunes.

On my Mac I found I also had to unplug an audio output cable from the mini-phone jack on the back of my computer to prevent a nasty electrical static that started whenever I activated the 2496.

When it works, the sound it great! A vast improvement over the built in sound. But it gets a 3 because of poor driver reliability, out of date manual, and Driver CD that contains no 2496 drivers.

It’s going back to the store.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Audiphile 2496 For True Audiophiles
By Daniel Gordon
Like the name suggests, the m-audio audiophile 2496 is for true audiophiles. I have had this card for years and there still is few options that are on par with this card for the same money. The audiophile has a full dynamic range of crisp audio with little distortion. I connect my sound card via digital coaxial cable to my Harman Kardon avr 240 and the sound is amazingly clear.

The one drawback to this card is it may be difficult for some to learn to use at first. However, when quality is essential go with the Audiophile 2496.

See all 43 customer reviews…