Opioid/Benzodiazepine Polydrug Abuse: Integrating Research on Mechanisms, Treatment and Policies - Study 3
Wayne State University
Summary
In this study, the investigators will measure affective, neurocognitive and behavioral outcomes related to chronic use of opioids and benzodiazepines (screening phase), and in response to the administration of the opioid morphine, the benzodiazepine alprazolam, morphine then alprazolam, alprazolam then morphine, morphine+alprazolam simultaneously, and placebo (laboratory pharmacology experiment). The latter will enable the investigators to assess the effects of an opioid alone, benzodiazepine alone, concurrent and simultaneous administration of opioid+benzodiazepine, relative to a placebo control.
Description
The investigators propose that benzodiazepine/opioid polysubstance abuse is perpetuated by a dual-deficit in affective/hedonic regulation (difficulties modulating emotional reactions relative to the context and the person's long-term goals). Furthermore, the investigators propose that this dual-deficit biases neurocognition (interferes with executive function) and behaviors (guided by negative reinforcement processes such that polysubstance use acutely blunts aversive states and directs actions away from natural rewards). The scientific premise for this project builds on George Koob's foundati…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * must self-report past 10-year experience taking opioid and sedative drugs (for therapeutic or non-therapeutic reasons), but not necessarily at the same time. As an alternative to the sedative drug exposure requirement, participants must have used alcohol on at least 3 separate days during the past month. Participants may have current mild- or moderate-severity Opioid Use Disorder or current mild- or moderate-severity Sedative Use Disorder; * must not be seeking treatment for their substance use problems; * must be in current good overall health Exclusion Criteria: * me…
Interventions
- DrugMorphine
immediate release oral 15mg dose
- DrugAlprazolam
oral 0.25mg dose
- DrugPlacebo
Lactose
Location
- Tolan Park Medical BuildingDetroit, Michigan