The patient, surnamed Li, was hospitalized due to injuries from a car accident and exhibited symptoms such as mental agitation and incoherent speech. After reviewing his medical history, a doctor surnamed Lin discovered that Li had long suffered from severe alcohol dependence, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"This trauma is directly linked to alcohol consumption," Lin said. Li said that he had tried to quit drinking independently but found himself caught in a vicious cycle of withdrawal and relapse, with his alcohol dependency worsening after each setback, the report said.

Confronted with this complex and challenging case of alcohol dependence, where traditional medication and psychological interventions had proven ineffective, the medical team decided to perform the "anti-alcohol chip" implantation after thorough consultation and communication with the patient.

Under local anesthesia, surgeons made an approximately two cm incision in Li's abdomen and precisely implanted drug particles into his subcutaneous tissue. The entire procedure took only 10 minutes.

The chip is not an electronic device, but rather an extended-release naltrexone hydrochloride implant. Delivered through minimally invasive surgery, it acts like a "24/7 alcohol abstinence checkpoint" within the body, according to the Xinhua report.

Over a period of more than 150 days, it steadily releases naltrexone into the bloodstream at a controlled rate, blocking the pleasurable effects of alcohol while reducing cravings, according to the report.

Global Times