Managing Stress

Some people use substances (alcohol, drugs, or nicotine) to cope with stress. Substances provide a temporary "high" that may relieve feelings of stress or fear.

Just like the other forms of coping, using substances will only cause more problems in the long-term. Research has shown that people who use alcohol as a coping strategy are more likely to experience negative consequences from drinking.

In addition, people who rely on alcohol as a way to cope with unwanted emotions are less likely than other drinkers to transition out of heavy drinking patterns as they get older.