I agree with you that stress does play a big role in substance dependence. Individuals use substance in order to deal with stressors. However, individuals end up doing more damage to themselves and other around them when a substance is used as a means to escape. In this case, the individual believes he or she needs the substance in order to keep functioning. Furthermore, I agree with you that individual may be going through the slippery phase before lapsing. In this case, it takes losing a job, relationship problems, and much more to start the vicious cycle of relieving stressors through the use of a substance.
