craving but it is unclear if it reduces stress-induced craving. There is preliminary evidence that pharmacological interventions that target the adrenergic system may reduce craving evoked by both alcohol/drugs and stress (Fox and Sinha, 2014; Fox et al., 2012; Lê et al., 2011). Cognitive behavioral treatments separately address craving and negative affect in selective modules, but neither module directly addresses the stress-induced craving state, which may encompass physiologic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of stress-related alcohol and drug motivation to potentially impact risk of intake (Bergquist et al., 2010; Chaplin et al., 2010; Sinha, 2013). As evidenced by the current study, stressful events are common for most individuals in early recovery. Current findings support the notion that novel treatment development to specifically target craving and high risk of drinking on stressful days during treatment could be of benefit in decreasing stress-related craving and its potential for adversely jeopardizing alcohol treatment and recovery.
