Session Description: In this comprehensive session, we will explore the complex relationship between stress and alcohol use and misuse, examining the neurological underpinnings and behavioral consequences of using alcohol as a coping mechanism. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how stress activates various brain regions and how alcohol misuse alters brain stress system activity, leading ultimately to maladaptive coping strategies and more severe alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorder. Additionally, the session will cover the recent trends in alcohol use, particularly in the context of trauma and the associated mental health challenges. By the end of this session, participants will be equipped with a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between stress and alcohol misuse, and be better prepared to implement strategies that promote healthy coping mechanisms and support individuals at risk for or recovering from AUD. 

Learning Objectives:

• Examine the Impact of Stress on Alcohol Use
• Discuss the correlation between alcohol misuse and stress-related mental health conditions such as PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and depression.
• Analyze the spikes in alcohol use and related harms that coincide with periods of trauma, including increases in emergency department visits and deaths involving alcohol.
• Explain how drinking alcohol to cope with stress can lead to increased feelings of stress over time and contribute to the addiction cycle.

George F. Koob, PhD
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

George F. Koob, is Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).  He is also a Senior Investigator at the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Drug Abuse where he directs the Neurobiology of Addiction Laboratory in the Integrative Neurosciences Research Branch.

As an authority on alcohol use disorder, drug addiction and stress, he has contributed to our understanding of the neurocircuitry associated with the acute reinforcing effects of alcohol and drugs and the neuroadaptations of the reward and stress circuits associated with the transition to dependence. He has published over 800 peer reviewed papers, mentored 13 Ph. D students, 85 post-doctoral fellows, 11 K99’s and authored several books including the “Neurobiology of Addiction”. He received his Ph.D. in Behavioral Physiology from Johns Hopkins University in 1972. He did post-doctoral studies at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the University of Cambridge (England). He subsequently held positions at The Salk Institute and the Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Koob is the recipient of many honors, including membership in the National Academy of Medicine (USA) and award of the Legion of Honor (France).