Drug and alcohol dependence
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Apr 2008
Divergent effects of cannabidiol on the discriminative stimulus and place conditioning effects of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol.
Cannabis sativa (marijuana plant) contains myriad cannabinoid compounds; yet, investigative attention has focused almost exclusively on Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), its primary psychoactive substituent. Interest in modulation of THC's effects by these other cannabinoids (e.g., cannabidiol (CBD)) has been stimulated anew by recent approval by Canada of Sativex (a 1:1 dose ratio combination of CBD:THC) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The goal of this study was to determine the degree to which THC's abuse-related effects were altered by co-administration of CBD. ⋯ When administered alone, CBD did not produce effects in either procedure. These results suggest that CBD, when administered with THC at therapeutically relevant ratios, may ameliorate aversive effects (e.g., dysphoria) often associated with initial use of THC alone. While this effect may be beneficial for therapeutic usage of a CBD:THC combination medication, our discrimination results showing that CBD did not alter THC's discriminative stimulus effects suggest that CBD:THC combination medications may also produce THC-like subjective effects at these dose ratios.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Apr 2008
Non-medical use, abuse and dependence on prescription opioids among U.S. adults: psychiatric, medical and substance use correlates.
Non-medical use of prescription opioids carries risks including development of abuse/dependence. Such use may correlate with psychiatric, medical, and substance use characteristics. ⋯ Non-medical use of prescription opioids is common. Furthermore, nearly 13% of those with non-medical use meet criteria for abuse/dependence. Panic, social phobia and agoraphobia, low self-rated health status, and other substance misuse among those with non-medical use of prescription opioids should alert clinicians to screen for abuse and dependence.