Discussion Prompt: Interaction between Stress and Addiction
Drug addiction is a chronic, neuropsychiatric disorder that escalates from an initial exposure to drugs of abuse—such as cocaine, cannabis, or heroin—to compulsive drug-seeking and intake, reduced ability to inhibit craving-induced behaviors, and repeated cycles of abstinence and relapse. It is well-known that chronic changes in the brain’s reward system play an important role in the neurobiology of addiction. Notably, environmental factors, such as acute or chronic stress, affect this system, and increase the risk for drug consumption and relapse. Cavaiola, A., Giordano, A., & Golubovic, N. (2021) discuss this concept in the Stress and Substance Use Disorder section of Chapter 3, which is part of this session’s Reading and Viewing Assignments.
Drawing from at least two (2) external sources (e.g. journal articles) please discuss your understanding of the brain’s function within the interaction between stress and addiction and how such may impact the substance user.