Overview: Stress and Alcohol Use Disorders Revisited

Nearly 13 years have passed since Alcohol Research & Health (now titled Alcohol Research: Current Reviews) first visited the topic of “Alcohol and Stress.” Since that time, the field has advanced considerably. New terms have been developed to describe the complex physiological interactions that occur when an individual is faced with stressful events and more is known about how the brain and body work to offset the changes induced through stress-response mechanisms. An individual’s reactions to stress vary according to a number of factors, such as his or her genetic makeup, environment, life events, gender, age, and type and duration of stress. Drinking alcohol has the unique ability to both relieve stress and to be the cause of it, creating in a sense a double-edged sword. Understanding the link between alcohol drinking, stress, and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is a critical area for ongoing investigation. Discoveries emanating from this field not only add to the burgeoning literature on stress and the risk for disease but also may provide answers to help prevent and intervene in the development of AUDs.