How stress increases drug cravings and relapse risk
Mechanisms underlying the influence of stress on drug-seeking behavior
This project looks at whether stress changes brain signals that make people with cocaine addiction more likely to relapse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325061 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you live with cocaine addiction, this research is trying to understand how everyday stressors change brain circuits to make relapse more likely. The team uses a well-established rat model of cocaine use to recreate how stress interacts with drug cues and low drug doses to trigger drug-seeking. They focus on stress hormones (like corticosterone) and endocannabinoid signaling at CB1 receptors in a part of the prefrontal cortex linked to decision-making. Findings will point to specific brain pathways that could be targeted to prevent stress-driven relapse in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of cocaine use disorder who are concerned about stress-related cravings or relapse would be the most relevant group.
Not a fit: People without cocaine use disorder or whose relapse is driven entirely by factors unrelated to stress may not benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that reduce the chance of stress-triggered relapse for people with cocaine use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have linked stress hormones and endocannabinoid/CB1 signaling to relapse-like behavior, but translating these findings into proven human treatments is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Milwaukee, United States
- Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mantsch, John R — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Mantsch, John R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.