Abstinence may raise relapse risk: new brain-activity clues from a mouse alcohol study

A mouse study shows that long-term voluntary alcohol use followed by forced abstinence can lead to aversion‑resistant drinking and heightened activity in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), with BNST activity evident even before exposure to alcohol. This suggests abstinence-related brain changes may raise relapse risk and points to BNST as a potential screening target to identify those most vulnerable to relapse and tailor interventions.