The oral administration to genetically alcoholic rats (from the strain UChB of the University of Chile) of a compound selected from endogenic polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine), 1,3-propanediamine, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates, and their bioprecursor amides, causes a significant reduction in the alcohol consumption. The activity lasts for some time after the treatment period. Besides, there is a virtually null disulfiram-like adverse effect, what constitutes an advantage over the unpleasant use of some anti-alcoholism agents, such as calcium cyanamide or disulfiram itself. Therefore, the compounds of the invention are useful for the preparation of medicaments for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of alcoholism in human beings.