Effects of alcohol on cocaine lethality in rats: acute and chronic assessments

Cocaine and alcohol is a popular, yet toxic, drug combination that results in effects greater than that of either drug alone. The following experiment presents additional evidence that supports this position. Specifically, the lethal effects of acute (1 day) and chronic (4 days) alcohol (0.5 g/kg), cocaine (20, 30, or 40 mg/kg), or the respective alcohol/cocaine combinations were assessed in rats. For acute drug administration, lethality was only evident in those animals administered the combination of 0.5 g/kg alcohol and 40 mg/kg cocaine, supporting the position that the effects of combining alcohol and cocaine are greater than either drug alone. Chronic drug administration resulted in a weak sensitization to cocaine-induced lethality that was increased when alcohol was combined with cocaine. Together, this evidence suggests that combining alcohol and cocaine (acutely) can have lethal consequences in rats that are greater than either drug alone, effects that can be exacerbated with chronic use.