Clinical outcomes following cocaine infusion in nontreatment-seeking individuals with cocaine dependence

Background: In this study we explored if laboratory-based cocaine administr ation to human subjects was associated with long-term adverse outcomes. Methods: Twenty-one non-treatment seeking individuals with cocaine dependen ce were evaluated at baseline and again 5 and 10 months following cocaine i nfusion in a brain imaging study. Outcomes included computer-driven multidi mensional clinical assessments and radioimmuno-assay of hair For comparison , identical data were collected from 19 cocaine-dependent subjects who did not receive the infusion. Results: The infused and noninfused groups did not differ on frequency of c ocaine use (corroborated by radioimmunoassay of hair), Addiction Severity I ndex drug composite score, or Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score at both follow-lip time points. In a time-related trend analysis, both groups showed significant reductions in frequency of cocaine use. Conclusions: Laboratory-based cocaine administration can be a safe paradigm even in individuals who are not engaged in treatment, Biol Psychiatry 2001 ;49:553-555 (C) 2001 Society of Biological Psychiatry.