Some thoughts on the relations between animal and human drug-taking

Results of studies of drug self-administration have frequently been suggested as indicators of the potential for abuse of these drugs by humans. Historical data (pre 1970), although scant, supported this suggestion for drugs such as morphine and ethanol that served as reinforcers in both human and non-human experimental subjects. More recent information indicated that, while the correlation between human and non-human drug self-administration may be high, there are apparently, occasional exceptions. In the narcotic analysis and antidepressant classes of pharmacological compounds, there are drugs that maintain high response rates in animals, but have not yet been shown to result in significant abuse problems in man. Various methodological issues, related to the general proposition and the exceptions to it are discussed.