Thus, the interaction between stress and alcohol is very complex. Alcohol can alleviate stress while at the same time provoke a stress response. The dynamic interplay between numerous biological and environmental variables along with experiential factors plays a critical role in defining subjective aspects of stress (i.e., perception and appraisal of a stressful event) as well as how response to stress impacts decisions about alcohol drinking and the manner in which alcohol consumption alters stress responsiveness. Recently, greater attention has focused on examining how a history of chronic alcohol exposure and withdrawal influences the capacity of stress to modulate alcohol consumption. Indeed, stress contributes to dynamic changes underlying transition to alcohol addiction and influences drinking at all stages of the addiction process.
