Preference for higher sucrose concentrations in cocaine abusing-dependent patients

Animal studies suggest that preference for relatively high concentrations of sweet solutions and lack of control over sweet solution consumption is related to a preference for alcohol over water. There also is evidence in humans that alcoholics prefer high concentration sweet solutions. This study was designed to determine whether patients with cocaine use disorder also prefer high concentrations of sweet solutions.

Sixteen patients with cocaine abuse/dependency were compared with 16 inpatient controls with an affective disorder as to their preferences for increasing concentrations of sucrose solutions. Patients were administered aqueous sucrose solutions ranging from 0.05 to 0.83 M. They were then asked to rate their degree of preference for, and the degree of sweetness of each solution.

Cocaine abusing/dependent patients significantly more often preferred the highest sucrose concentration (0.83 M).

The above information suggests that cocaine abusing/dependent patients, like alcoholics, and in contrast to inpatient controls, share a preference for high concentrations of sucrose.