Addicts who have been clean for many years may continue to battle the urge to return to their old habbits.  Sometiemes they win the battle, often times they loose.  Many addicts have tried rehab and go not only one time, but two or three and still fail.  Most rehab centers use 12 step programs along with counseling.  Few rehab centers use the anti-addictive pills.  The pills, naltrexone are said to prevent the urge or craving to use alcohol again.  They have been available for use in alcoholics for sveral years and some users swear by them.

Injections are given for a period of time and then stopped.  Doctors tell the patients that if they feel the urge or craveing again, they can come back for additonal dosage.  One person who started treatment 8 years ago, while naltrexone was still in the trial phase says that he has been clean ever since.  He can walk throug a bar, see the sights and smell the smells without even carving a drink.  He can even sit at the bar and drink soda and tell a frined who offers to buy him a drink that he is fine with his soda.