SLC18A2 and alcohol drinking: Thus, the binding of (+)[11C]dihydrotetrabenazine to the neuronal vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2) was reduced in caudate and putamen of seven males with severe chronic alcohol abuse [41], and an autoradiographic study revealed reduced dopamine transporters in striatum of patients dying with alcoholism [42], as did a SPECT study in patients [40].