Problem: Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has shown promise in reducing alcohol use and promoting abstinence in patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. In vivo imaging studies point to an increased sensitivity of brain areas to alcohol-associated stimuli, which may be in part genetically influenced (Heinz et al., 2005).
However, adding MAT can sometimes only offer a reduction in drinking days and not total abstinence from alcohol. Discuss how behavior change might be helpful for long-term abstinence and the type of recommended therapy that helps individuals develop the behaviors that support long-term abstinence.