The problem of cocaine dependence remains a major medical, social, and legal concern, with 2.3 million Americans estimated to be current users of cocaine. The outcome from medications development efforts has generally been discouraging, excepting for results recently obtained for disulfiram. A series of clinical trials have shown that disulfiram treatment was associated with reduced cocaine use, independent of co-morbid drug or alcohol use. The validation of a human laboratory model against outcomes observed in clinical trials would be a major step forward in developing even more effective treatments for cocaine dependence. This is a crucial undertaking, since there has not been good accord between animal or human laboratory model findings and results from clinical trials. Disulfiram has a variety of actions, one of which is to inhibit dopamine beta hydroxylase, the enzyme responsible for metabolizing dopamine into norepinephrine. Recently obtained data indicate that disulfiram is particularly effective in patients with a """"""""T"""""""" allele of dopamine beta hydroxylase (DBH); the C/T genotype is associated with reduced enzyme activity compared to the C/C genotype. We therefore propose to evaluate effects of disulfiram treatment on cocaine self-administration in genetically characterized non-treatment seeking volunteers. Participants will be screened and only those with the DBH C/T genotype will be included. Effects of cocaine self-administration will be assessed using two established human laboratory models, one developed at Columbia University and the other developed at Johns Hopkins. Based on the observed effects of disulfiram treatment in clinical trials, especially effects of disulfiram in participants with the C/T genotype, we anticipate that disulfiram treatment will decrease cocaine self-administration in the laboratory.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01DA017705-04
Application #
7439054
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Oversby, Steven
Project Start
2005-09-20
Project End
2010-06-30
Budget Start
2008-07-01
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$356,587
Indirect Cost
Name
Baylor College of Medicine
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
051113330
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
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