Psychopathology, craving, and mood during heroin acquisition: an experimental study

• Published in: International journal of the addictions Vol. 11; no. 3; p. 525
• Main Authors: Mirin, S M, Meyer, R E, McNamee, H B, McDougle, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 1976
• Subjects: Adult; Aggression - drug effects; Anxiety - chemically induced; Depression - chemically induced; Drive; Emotions - drug effects; Heroin - administration & dosage; Heroin - pharmacology; Heroin Dependence - rehabilitation; Hostility - drug effects; Humans; Male; Methadone - therapeutic use; Middle Aged; Narcotic Antagonists - therapeutic use; Psychological Tests; Self-Assessment; Token Economy
• ISSN: 0020-773X
• DOI: 10.3109/10826087609056168

Six detoxified addict volunteers were allowed to self-administer intravenous heroin on an essentially self-determined schedule. Two periods of heroin acquisition were compared: an unmodified cycle in which patients could become intoxicated and a later cycle in which the effects of heroin were blocked with a narcotic antagonist. In the unblocked condition, patients initially experienced an increase in positive mood, but with chronic administration there was a significant rise in psychopathology and the development of a generalized dysphoric state. Similar changes did not occur when the same patients took heroin while blocked with a narcotic antagonist. Drug craving rose dramatically when "unblocked" heroin was available, but gradually fell during methadone detoxification. Following treatment with a narcotic antagonist, the presence of heroin failed to elicit any sustained rise in craving and drug taking was dramatically reduced.