How Naltrexone Can Support Your Alcohol Recovery

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For folks who are already sober and working to stay that way, a recent study points to a tool that many people in alcohol recovery never hear about. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that simple prompts in the emergency department led to a 15-fold increase in prescriptions for naltrexone, a medication that reduces alcohol cravings, a sign of how often this option goes unmentioned in everyday care.

You don’t have to be in a crisis to benefit from knowing about it. For people maintaining their alcohol recovery, naltrexone is one more support that can sit alongside meetings, group peer connection, and the habits you have already built.

Naltrexone’s Role

The researchers tested two behavioral nudges through Penn Medicine’s Nudge Unit. One set up a standard screen to care for patients with alcohol use disorder. The other added prompts in the electronic health record reminding clinicians to consider naltrexone. The result was a 15-fold jump in the chance that a qualified patient left with a prescription.

The study points to how underused these medications like Antabuse and naltrexone are. Naltrexone is FDA-approved, low-cost, and effective at reducing cravings, yet co-author Dr. Jeanmarie Perrone described them as “highly effective, underutilized, low-cost medications” for a condition that affects roughly one in ten Americans. A 2023 survey cited in the coverage found that only about 1.9% of people with alcohol use disorder received any medication for it.

Promoting Long-Term Sobriety

Cravings don’t always end when early sobriety does. Naltrexone blunts cravings for alcohol and dulls its rewarding effects. This process helps during stressful stretches or in social settings where drinking is the default. For some people in recovery, that extra support lowers the day-to-day mental load of staying sober.

There is a long-running debate about whether medication belongs in 12-step recovery. The current evidence supports medications for alcohol use disorder, and they don’t have to compete with the peer support that meetings provide. Some people find their footing through Alcoholics Anonymous, others through medication, holistic approaches, or a combination. One path does not cancel out the others.

Staying Sober with Practical Tips

Whether you’re at 90 days or several years, a few habits can reinforce your recovery:

• Ask your doctor whether a medication like naltrexone or acamprosate fits your situation

• Keep showing up to meetings or other peer support, even when things feel steady

• Name your triggers and plan for high-risk moments before they arrive

• Build in accountability through a good sponsor, friend, or tracker

• Track your progress and milestones with the Sober App

AA Meetings Can Help

Peer support remains one of the most reliable parts of long-term recovery. You can search for the ideal AA meetings, join online AA meetings and virtual support groups when getting out is hard, and lean on the community when cravings spike.

To find meeting information and recovery resources, call 800-948-8417 Sponsored . Or, look through our directory for AA chapters located anywhere in the USA.

By Terri Beth Miller

By Peter Lee

Terri Beth Miller is a writer, editor, and educator with a PhD in English language and literature from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. In her role as Senior Managing Editor at Rehab Media Group, she is dedicated to the creation of high-quality content that informs, inspires, and empowers readers to build their best lives.

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Peter W.Y. Lee is a writer and historian of American history. His primary focus is on the Cold War era. His academic work examines the relationship between youth and popular culture and its impact on U.S. society during the twentieth century. 

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