This presentation will examine the role of ethanol withdrawal phenomena in the maintenance and progression of alcohol dependence. Discussion will specifically examine the putative role of ethanol withdrawal-induced brain damage in relapse to ethanol dependence. Specific topics to be presented include: (1) brain volume changes in chronic alcoholism; (2) the role of repeated detoxification episodes in neuronal loss; and (3) the potential role of cognitive disihhibition in relapse. Empirical data will be presented which describe a brain slice culture model of
ethanol withdrawal-induced brain damage and the treatment of this damage. Discussion will focus on the role of a few key neurotransmitter systems in withdrawal induced neurotoxicity and the relevance of this and similar models to: (i) the development of novel pharmacological agents for use in treating ethanol withdrawal and (2) the role of conditioning in relapse to ethanol dependence.