THE ECONOMIC CONTEXT OF DRUG AND NONDRUG REINFORCERS AFFECTS ACQUISITION AND MAINTENANCE OF DRUG-REINFORCED BEHAVIOR AND WITHDRAWAL EFFECTS

Authors
Citation
Me. Carroll, THE ECONOMIC CONTEXT OF DRUG AND NONDRUG REINFORCERS AFFECTS ACQUISITION AND MAINTENANCE OF DRUG-REINFORCED BEHAVIOR AND WITHDRAWAL EFFECTS, Drug and alcohol dependence, 33(2), 1993, pp. 201-210
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Substance Abuse
Journal title
ISSN journal
03768716
Volume
33
Issue
2
Year of publication
1993
Pages
201 - 210
Database
ISI
SICI code
0376-8716(1993)33:2<201:TECODA>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
The focus of this review is to examine the effect of non-drug alternat ive reinforcers on drug-reinforced behavior. An increasing number of a nimal laboratory as well as human clinical studies have demonstrated t he effectiveness of non-drug reinforcers in reducing steady-state leve ls of drug self-administration. One goal of this review was to determi ne what behavioral economic conditions are optimal for reducing drug-r einforced behavior. Variables such as price of the drug and non-drug r einforcer have been manipulated by changing fixed-ratio (FR) value of these commodities. Income has been changed by limiting the amount of a ccess to the commodities or by changing session length. Substitution w as evaluated by determining whether decreased demand for a drug (due t o increased price) was related to increased demand for a non-drug rein forcer. A second goal of this review was to investigate transition sta tes in the drug addiction process with respect to the role of alternat ive non-drug reinforcers. Animal models of acquisition and withdrawal were examined to identify behavioral economic conditions under which a cquisition may be prevented or withdrawal effects (and potential for r elapse) may be alleviated.