Inclusion Criteria:  treatment-seeking individuals diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnostic (AUD) and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) fluent in English past month excessive alcohol use (>7 drinks/week for woman, >14 drinks/week for men, >3 drinks/occasion for women>4 drinks/occasion for men) exhibit baseline measures of either 1) 8-23 on HAM-A indicative of mild to moderate anxiety, 2) 14-26 on PSS Score indicative of moderate stress, or 3) ≥2 on Drinking Motives Questionnaire (DMQ-R) questions related to drinking indicating that individuals drink at least "some of the time" to cope exhibit increased stress reactivity (increased physiological response and/or self-report) at the baseline stress reactivity assessment females will need to agree to use of barrier methods of contraception due to pioglitazone's effects on plasma concentrations of oral contraceptives  Exclusion Criteria:  Exhibit severe scores on the HAM-A, PSS, or PTSD checklist (PCL-5) - may be enrolled at the discretion of the admitting physician (Dr. Weaver) physical dependence on alcohol (CIWAA > 10) greater than mild substance use disorder on drugs other than alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana contraindications for taking pioglitazone medical conditions (e.g., congestive heart failure, clinically significant edema, clinically significant liver disease, hypoglycemia, diabetes, history of bladder cancer) contraindicating pioglitazone pharmacotherapy or taking contraindicated medications (e.g., CYP2C8 inhibitors or inducers, antihyperglycemic medications) be pregnant, nursing, or planning on becoming pregnant during the course of the study have any other illness, condition, or use of medications, which in the opinion of the PI and/or admitting physician would preclude safe and/or successful completion of the study