A prominent feature of cocaine abuse and dependence disorders is the frequent occurrence of relapse episodes often triggered by psychological distress and/or negative emotional affect. My research employs novel rodent models of drug use and relapse in combination with immunohistochemical and chemogenetic approaches to identify those brain regions/systems that mediate drug seeking following exposure to psychosocial stressors. We are also currently exploring the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the relationship between different stress-coping strategies and vulnerability to substance abuse. The overarching goals of this work are to 1) identify novel biological or behavioral markers for relapse vulnerability, and 2) develop novel behavioral and/or pharmacotherapeutic treatment strategies for the prevention of stress-induced drug relapse.