To improve our understanding of the causes of drug abuse, experiments are proposed to test the possibility that one drug can acquire the ability to elicit the effects normally produced by a second drug as the result of classical conditioning procedures. More specifically, the studies investigate whether administration of a low dose of one drug can be made to elicit the sensory effects characteristic of withdrawal from a different drug (or craving for the second drug). A series of six experiments using rats is proposed. The first of these replicates a previously demonstrated conditioning effect using body temperature as the dependent variable. Subsequent experiments incrementally shift the focus of attention into the domain of sensory effects of drugs. The final experiment tests whether a low dose of ethanol can, after classical conditioning procedures, evoke the sensory effects normally produced by withdrawal form narcotics.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01DA004725-01A1
Application #
3210385
Study Section
Drug Abuse Clinical and Behavioral Research Review Committee (DACB)
Project Start
1989-09-01
Project End
1992-08-31
Budget Start
1989-09-01
Budget End
1990-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Temple University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19122
Overton, Donald A; Stanwood, Gregg D; Patel, Bhavesh N et al. (2009) Measurement of the lowest dosage of phenobarbital that can produce drug discrimination in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 203:213-8
Bormann, N M; Overton, D A (1996) The relative salience of morphine and contextual cues as conditioned stimuli. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 123:164-71
Overton, D A; Shen, C F; Tatham, T A (1993) Centrally acting drugs act as conditioned stimuli in a conditioned suppression of drinking task. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 112:270-6
Overton, D A (1991) A historical perspective on drug discrimination. NIDA Res Monogr :5-24