Diazepam preference in males with and without an alcoholic first-degree relative

The relationship between family history of alcoholism and risk for benzodiazepine abuse was examined by assessing the reinforcing and subjective effects of diazepam (DZ; 4-28 mg) in 14 normal (i.e., nonalcoholic) males with a first-degree alcoholic relative (family history positive; FHP) and in 13 control subjects without alcoholic relatives (FHN). Reinforcing effects were measured using a double-blind preference procedure in which subjects first sampled DZ and placebo (PL) and then chose the substance they preferred. Subjects were also allowed to select the dose of drug they preferred on each choice session. The subjective effects of DZ were assessed using standardized self-report questionnaires. Neither group chose the DZ more often than PL. The FHP group chose DZ slightly (but not significantly) more often than the FHN group (mean choices FHP 1.42 vs. FHN 1.15 out of 3 choice options), and they chose slightly (but not significantly) more doses of DZ within sessions (FHP 25 mg vs. FHN 18 mg). The groups did not differ in their responses to DZ on other measures (e.g., subjective drug effects or drug liking). To the extent that laboratory procedures such as the one used here provide a model for assessing the abuse liability of drugs, these results do not provide strong evidence that males with a family history of alcoholism have an elevated risk for developing benzodiazepine abuse or dependence.