New Behavioral Intervention on Alcohol Craving and Drinking

Background: Sights, sounds, and smells can be associated with alcohol and tempt people to drink. The connection between encountering cues and wanting to drink might be reduced by behavioral techniques, like giving the cues at certain times, in certain circumstances. Objective: To see if visual imagery and behavioral techniques can reduce alcohol craving and drinking. Eligibility: Healthy people ages 21 65 who are mildly concerned about their drinking and have had these habits in the past 3 months: Women: More than 3 drinks any single day and more than 7 drinks per week Men: More than 4 drinks any single day and more than 14 drinks per week Design: Participants will be screened with medical history, physical exam, blood tests, alcohol breath tests, hepatitis tests, and alcohol and drug use questionnaires. Participants will get a smartphone to carry throughout the study. They will use it to report on their drinking, moods, and activities daily. The phone s GPS will record their locations throughout each day. There will be 6 study visits over 4 weeks. Visits will last up to 4 hours, but the final visit lasts up to 7 hours. Visits include the following: Not drinking alcohol or using illicit or over-the-counter drugs at least 24 hours before each visit Providing urine and breath samples. Exposure to various cues. Participants reactions will be monitored by measuring heart rate, blood pressure, and skin temperature. Drinking alcohol or soft drinks. For visits with alcohol, transportation to and from the visit will be provided. About a month after the last visit, participants will be called to ask about their drinking and cravings.