Alcohol pretreatment increases preference for cocaine over monetary reinforcement

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychopharmacology
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Cocaine dependence is a significant public health issue.
• Understanding factors influencing cocaine choice is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• The interaction between alcohol and cocaine use warrants investigation due to potential synergistic effects on behavior and physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the reinforcing effects of cocaine in non-dependent users.
• To examine how alcohol pretreatment influences cocaine choice when alternative monetary reinforcers are available.
• To assess the impact of combined alcohol and cocaine administration on subjective drug effects and cardiac function.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase, double-blind, placebo-controlled laboratory experiment was conducted with non-dependent cocaine users.
• Phase 1 involved sampling intranasal cocaine versus placebo to establish reinforcing properties.
• Phase 2 assessed cocaine choice against monetary alternatives under varying alcohol (placebo, 0.5, 1.0 g/kg) pretreatment conditions.

Main Results:

• Cocaine was reliably chosen over placebo, confirming its reinforcing effects.
• Alcohol pretreatment significantly increased cocaine choice, while increasing monetary value decreased it.
• Combined alcohol and cocaine use elevated cardiac output, with maximal effects observed at higher alcohol doses.

Conclusions:

• Alcohol can enhance cocaine preference, potentially complicating cocaine abstinence.
• The availability of non-drug alternative reinforcers can reduce cocaine preference.
• Concurrent alcohol and cocaine use poses a greater cardiac risk than cocaine use alone.