Which medication is not used in treatment for alcohol abuse?

• A. Buprenorphine
• B. Disulfiram
• C. Naltrexone
• D. Acamprosate

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how pharmacotherapy targets alcohol use disorder by altering craving, reinforcement, or aversion. Buprenorphine is a medication used for opioid use disorder, acting as a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist. It is not indicated or proven effective for treating alcohol use disorder, so it’s not used for that purpose.

In contrast, the other medications have roles in treating alcohol misuse: disulfiram creates an aversive reaction if alcohol is consumed, naltrexone blocks opioid receptors to reduce alcohol's rewarding effects and help prevent relapse, and acamprosate helps maintain abstinence by stabilizing glutamatergic signaling. Because of these approved mechanisms and evidence, buprenorphine stands out as the one not used for alcohol abuse treatment.