Using a novel alternative to drug choice in a human laboratory model of a cocaine binge: A game of chance

Abstract Human laboratory studies have shown that, once initiated, cocaine self-administration is difficult to disrupt using non-drug alternatives. This inpatient study examined whether binge self-administration of cocaine could be altered by an immediate, non-drug reinforcer. Ten cocaine-dependent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Drug and alcohol dependence 2010-07, Vol.110 (1), p.144-150
Main Authors: Vosburg, Suzanne K, Haney, Margaret, Rubin, Eric, Foltin, Richard W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addictive behaviors
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Balls
Behavior
Binge
Binge use
Biological and medical sciences
Cocaine
Cocaine-Related Disorders - psychology
Drug addiction
Female
Gambling - psychology
Games
Games, Experimental
Humans
Laboratories
Male
Manipulation
Medical sciences
Models, Psychological
Motivation
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Self-administration
Smoking
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - psychology
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Summary:Abstract Human laboratory studies have shown that, once initiated, cocaine self-administration is difficult to disrupt using non-drug alternatives. This inpatient study examined whether binge self-administration of cocaine could be altered by an immediate, non-drug reinforcer. Ten cocaine-dependent participants completed 5 consecutive laboratory session days with 2 sessions per day (a model binge), 9 days where cocaine was not available, and subsequent 2 laboratory session days where cocaine was again available (a second model binge). In each laboratory session, participants could choose to either self-administer smoked cocaine or play a game of chance by drawing a pre-determined number of balls from a bingo wheel. Balls were worth monetary amounts from $0 to $20. Participants’ choice to smoke cocaine varied as a function of number of balls drawn. Thus, this game of chance served as an alternative reinforcer to smoking cocaine. Choice varied lawfully as a function of the number of opportunities to earn money indicating that an immediate behavioral alternative can reduce cocaine self-administration after initiation of use. The current model could be used to evaluate whether behavioral and pharmacological manipulations shift choice from cocaine to a non-drug alternative.
ISSN:0376-8716
1879-0046
DOI:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.02.015