Sinclair Method Studies
This article examines the scientific foundation behind TSM, drawing on nearly three decades of peer‑reviewed trials, neuroimaging research, and systematic reviews.
The Sinclair Method didn’t originate in a corporate lab or a detox facility—it started in a Helsinki research centre. Dr John David Sinclair, a behavioural psychologist from the United States, moved to Finland in the early 1970s after completing his PhD. There, he joined Alko Laboratories, the research arm of Finland’s state alcohol monopoly, which would later become part of the country’s National Public Health Institute.
Naltrexone is a non-addictive opioid antagonist that blocks the brain’s ability to feel pleasure from alcohol. Over time, drinking becomes less rewarding, reducing cravings and consumption naturally — a process known as Pharmacological Extinction. This effect is the foundation of The Sinclair Method (TSM), where individuals take Naltrexone only prior to drinking, gradually reprogramming their brain’s response to alcohol.
Naltrexone plays a vital role in the Sinclair Method (TSM), blocking the brain’s reward response to alcohol and gradually reducing the desire to drink.
Overcoming alcohol cravings isn’t about willpower — it’s about changing how the brain reacts to alcohol. That’s where Naltrexone comes in. This medication, when used correctly, can interrupt the reward cycle that fuels compulsive drinking. In this guide, we’ll explore exactly how Naltrexone works, what cravings really are, and how this medication rewires the brain's response to alcohol.