Individual differences in the priming effect of ethanol in social drinkers

Objective: Alcohol-dependent individuals frequently report increased desire for alcohol and exhibit increased alcohol-seeking behaviors following a si ngle drink. The phenomenon, known as priming, has been demonstrated in the laboratory in alcohol-dependent humans and in nonhumans, but the effect is inconsistently observed in nonproblem social drinkers. The current experime nt examined this effect in healthy, nonproblem social drinkers across a ran ge of preload doses. Method: Using a repeated-measures design, 12 social dr inkers were given ethanol (0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 g/kg) or placebo preloads. Vario us subjective effects measures were obtained at regular intervals. In addit ion, before and after consuming, the preload subjects performed an operant task on which they made repeated choices for either ethanol or money. Resul ts: Ethanol dose-dependently increased subjective reports of drug liking an d desire to take more ethanol. When data from all subjects were examined, e thanol did not affect choices for ethanol on the choice task. However, in s ubjects who reported the greatest positive mood effects from ethanol (0.8 g /kg), the ethanol preload increased choices for ethanol over money on the c hoice task. Conclusions: These findings provide evidence for a priming effe ct of ethanol in social drinkers as measured by increased subjective desire for drug. The findings also suggest that the priming effects may be strong est in individuals who experience the greatest subjective positive mood eff ects from ethanol.