Originally Posted by
MickeyAnMeisce 
Nothing in that article says the brain will never return to a non-pathological state. It only describes a susceptibility to stress "during an
initial period of alcohol abstinence."
Well, what do you know? People are stressed during the first 90 days after quitting. PhD thesis material right there.
If you want pretty brain PET and fMRI scans, though, there is this article from TIME, although you'll have to read almost to the end where they scan the guy to see if he is "triggered" by a beer, and he isn't. Of course, even if he was "triggered," meaning he really, really, really, wanted it and his brain lit up like a Christmas tree, still does not mean that he has to actually drink said beer.
How We get Addicted