Questionable methods in alcoholism research

Abstract

Alcoholism research paradigms that use substantial cash incentives to attract participants and that call for inducing alcoholics to consume ethanol in the laboratory raise significant ethical questions. Nonalcoholic family members observing such study methods may also suffer subtle emotional anguish by virtue of their participation. When using such questionable methods, investigators should be obligated to discuss their risk-benefit rationales and detail their precautionary behaviors to protect participants. Discussion of these ethical problems should be mandatory in any publications resulting from such research paradigms.