Dr. Schuckit's research was published in the September 1998 issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol . The study of mental processes in alcohol addiction will remain part of the research picture. Addiction is not purely a biological process. People's patterns of thinking, their emotional make-up, and the influence their environment has on them are all important to the overall addiction picture. Acknowledging this, researchers are exploring the efficacy of psychobehavioural therapies, not only medical solutions.
More research remains to be done on safe drinking during pregnancy.
Much is now known about the mechanism of alcohol toxicity on the liver, brain, pancreas and other organs. It is also established that the quantity, frequency and timing of drinking during gestation are the three key factors that influence the development of alcohol-related birth defects. Research has clearly shown the impact of alcohol on fetal development at all stages of pregnancy. The major debate that still remains is how much, if any, alcohol can safely be consumed during pregnancy. Different techniques will be combined.