Sleep drug tested to calm stress and curb drinking

This early-stage study tested whether suvorexant, a medication approved for sleep, could help people with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. Researchers wanted to see if the drug could reduce the brain's overreaction to stress and uncertainty, which can trigger drinking. 81 participants were randomly assigned to take either suvorexant or a placebo nightly for four weeks while their brain activity, stress responses, and drinking habits were tracked.