Treatment of alcoholism is more complicated than just stopping drinking. In fact, stopping alcohol use is only the first step to recovery. Behaviors that lead to the long-term use of alcohol must also be modified.

This might involve one-on-one, individual therapy with a psychologist, or a group therapy setting. Three common types of behavioral therapy that appear to be effective in promoting abstinence from alcohol are:

• Motivation Enhancement Therapy: positive reinforcement of good practices and accomplishments
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: attempts to modify behavior by highlighting how the thought process affects actions
• 12-step Facilitation Therapy: a graduated roadmap focusing on short-term goals at a measured pace

No single behavioral and medication treatment combination is right for everybody—treatment must be tailored to each individual patient to work properly.