The treatment of long-term alcohol addiction

The addiction lab at the  Neuroscience  Institute of  Victoria is working with a small start-up pharmaceutical company to try and formulate a  new drug for the market in the treatment of long-term alcohol addiction.  In the lab, pharmacological studies in vodka-addicted rats have shown that administration of the drug in quite high doses has been successful in reducing alcohol intake.    In vitro studies suggest that the drug interacts with both the dopamine and  GABA receptors in the brain.

What are the co-iterations that need to be made when making a  drug that needs to cross the blood-brain barrier?

Discuss how you think this drug is reducing alcohol intake.  In your answer you s, ld consider the pharmacology of both neurotransmitters.

Compare this potential drug to other drugs involved in treating alcohol addiction.a