Alcohol use disorder affects about 14 million adults in the United States. Current treatment includes counseling, peer support groups, and FDA-approved medications like naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. Many people cycle through periods of drinking and abstinence, and relapse rates remain high even with treatment.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing new medications that target brain circuits involved in craving and reward, including drugs originally developed for other conditions. Researchers are also studying different behavioral therapy approaches, medications to reduce heavy drinking rather than requiring total abstinence, and ways to predict which treatments work best for which people.
Brain reward system drugs
Several trials are testing medications that act on dopamine, serotonin, and other brain chemicals involved in alcohol craving. Some repurpose drugs already approved for other conditions, which could speed access if they work.
Harm reduction approaches
Studies are testing whether reducing heavy drinking days, rather than requiring complete abstinence, can improve health and quality of life. This shift recognizes that many people may not achieve or want total abstinence.
Personalized treatment matching
Researchers are trying to identify genetic markers, drinking patterns, and other factors that predict response to specific medications or therapy types. The goal is to match people to treatments more likely to work for them.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on drinking history, whether you're currently drinking or recently stopped, other medical conditions, and sometimes willingness to try abstinence versus reduced drinking.
What types of trials are currently open
- Medication trials — Testing new drugs or repurposed medications to reduce alcohol craving, prevent relapse, or make drinking less rewarding.
- Behavioral therapy trials — Comparing different counseling approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness-based treatments.
- Combination trials — Testing whether pairing medication with specific types of counseling works better than either alone.
- Digital intervention trials — Studies of smartphone apps, text messaging programs, and online therapy for alcohol use disorder.
- Long-term outcome studies — Following people over months or years to understand patterns of drinking, treatment response, and factors that support sustained recovery.
Recently added Alcohol Use Disorder trials
TRIS: Contingency Management App for Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a major public health concern associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and impaired social and occupational functioning. Contingency Management (CM) is an evidence-based behavioral intervention that provides incentives contingent on abstinence and has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of substance use disorders. This study will evaluate the efficacy of Tratamento Remoto com Incentivos à Sobriedade (TRIS), a Brazilian mobile health application that integrates a smartphone app with a Bluetooth-enabled breathalyzer (BACtrack) to deliver remote CM for AUD. Participants will be randomized to receive either standard outpatient treatment plus TRIS-based CM or standard outpatient treatment with remote alcohol monitoring only. The primary objective is to determine whether TRIS-based CM increases biochemically verified alcohol abstinence compared with standard outpatient treatment alone.
Understanding Pathways to Wellness and Recovery in Detroit - Digital Recovery Support Services
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if digital recovery support services (such as smartphone app) help to support alcohol recovery. We focus on a community of Black and African American people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) who receive in-person recovery support services from a recovery community center. Participants will: * Have an initial 2-hour in-person visit with the research team. During this visit, participants will be asked about themselves and their recovery from alcohol problems. They will also learn about digital recovery resources. * Use digital recovery resources on their own for 12 weeks. * Complete a short, weekly survey about their experience using digital recovery resources. * Have a follow-up 1-hour in-person visit where the researcher asks about again about the participants, their recovery and how they felt about using the digital recovery support services.
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