Cravings for Alcohol During Recovery

When people who have an alcohol problem make the decision to stop drinking, they often can experience cravings or urges to use alcohol. Some report that the wish or desire to drink again can be so powerful that it feels physical. While powerful cravings often occur in the initial days and weeks after a person stops drinking, cravings can still occur months or years after quitting. Obviously, to successfully refrain from drinking, a person must develop the skills to resist the craving to drink. This entry first presents a discussion of why urges to use alcohol occur, followed by a listing of some helpful techniques to combat these kinds of cravings.