Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide literature review of studies that focused on stress and opioids use. The subjective nature of stress makes any given individual respond to any potential stressor in a unique individualized manner, based on the psychological, physical, and previous life experiences that build up the ability of the individual to adapt to stressors. Stress is defined as a “Perceptual phenomena arising from a comparison between the demand on the person and his ability to cope, an imbalance in this mechanism gives rise to the experience of stress” [1]. Stress can increase vulnerability to addiction. Research studies have defined the important role of endogenous opioids in modulating stressassociated behavior. Administration of mu opioid agonists reduces the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a traumatic event by inhibiting fear-related memory consolidation, on the other hand, stress induces opioid craving and reinstates drug of abuse [2].