The objective of this proposal is the investigation of the effects of the interaction between marihuana, the most frequently abused illicit drug, and the frequently abused CNS stimulants, cocaine and amphetamine, with ethanol. The proposed studies will follow a double-blind, placebo-controlled, digram-balanced, latin square design. Because of the relevance of public health and public safety, the main focus of investigation will be on the effects of the drug/ethanol interactions on the performance of skills necessary to drive an automobile or to operate machinery with precision. In addition, the effects of drug interaction on relevant neuropsychologic, cardiovascular, and endocrine parameters, and on possible changes in drug absorption and disposition will be investigated. The proposed investigations will have the following characteristics: 1) An adequate number of subjects will be tested in each of the studies. The proper size of the sample has been based on power calculations. 2) Two doses of the companion drug and an effective dose of ethanol will be investigated. 3) The time of administration of the companion drug with respect to the time of administration of ethanol will be studied. 4) Plasma concentrations of ethanol and the companion drugs will be determined. 5) The design of the studies will permit a comparison of the effect of each drug alone and in combination with ethanol.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA004484-04
Application #
3210162
Study Section
Drug Abuse Clinical and Behavioral Research Review Committee (DACB)
Project Start
1987-07-01
Project End
1992-06-30
Budget Start
1990-07-01
Budget End
1991-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
078861598
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Perez-Reyes, M; Jeffcoat, A R; Myers, M et al. (1994) Comparison in humans of the potency and pharmacokinetics of intravenously injected cocaethylene and cocaine. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 116:428-32
Perez-Reyes, M (1994) The order of drug administration: its effects on the interaction between cocaine and ethanol. Life Sci 55:541-50
Perez-Reyes, M (1993) Subjective and cardiovascular effects of cocaethylene in humans. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 113:144-7
Perez-Reyes, M; White, W R; McDonald, S A et al. (1992) Interaction between ethanol and dextroamphetamine: effects on psychomotor performance. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 16:75-81
Perez-Reyes, M; White, W R; Hicks, R E (1992) Interaction between ethanol and calcium channel blockers in humans. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 16:769-75
Perez-Reyes, M; Jeffcoat, A R (1992) Ethanol/cocaine interaction: cocaine and cocaethylene plasma concentrations and their relationship to subjective and cardiovascular effects. Life Sci 51:553-63
Perez-Reyes, M; Burstein, S H; White, W R et al. (1991) Antagonism of marihuana effects by indomethacin in humans. Life Sci 48:507-15
Perez-Reyes, M (1990) Marijuana smoking: factors that influence the bioavailability of tetrahydrocannabinol. NIDA Res Monogr 99:42-62