However, we emphasize that clinicians should employ caution when attempting to strengthen inhibitory control. Over-confidence in the ability to control behavior can be damaging and lead individuals to expose themselves to greater levels of temptation and increase their substance use. It is important to identify the optimum balance between the capacity for self-control, motivation to change behavior, and beliefs about the ability to exercise self-control. Finally, we note that the majority of research on this topic that has been conducted to date has investigated alcohol use disorders, and there is a pressing need to investigate whether these principles apply to other substance use disorders as well.
