Which Side Dish Do You Prefer: Cocaine or Heroin?

Which Side Dish Do You Prefer: Cocaine or Heroin? 

Abstract 

           In the article titled "Drug Specificity in Drug verses Food Choice in Male Rats," Brenden J Tunstall, Anthony L. Riley, and David N. Kearns, from the American University seek to study self administration behavior of male rats with food in relation to cocaine and heroin use. This article analyzes the drug choices of the rats and the reinforcement of the drug on their behavior.

             In the experiment, sixteen male rats were given the choice of food or cocaine, and then again of food or heroin. They went through five phases. The first phase was training them to lever press for regular rat food and then given surgery preparing for the next phase.  Phase two they were self administering the first drug (cocaine). Phase three was choosing between one drug and the food, and phase four was administering the second drug (heroin).  The last phase was choosing between the second drug and food.  The main question comes down to, do the rats prefer cocaine or heroin as their drug of self administration over the food? 

            The results showed 5 of the 16 rats preferred the cocaine and 2 of the 16 preferred heroin.  Although there was no huge distinction between the drug choice, it was clear that the rats preferred drugs over food.  That makes sense right? Of course it is smart to prefer the option that kills you over the option that sustains you for life.  It is easier to measure this experiment in rats over humans due to other pharmaceutical drugs that could play a factor in choosing a drug and sticking with it. It is important to recognize that  this experiment falls short and becomes limited in that area and we can't be sure this is the exact reactions in humans too. It is possible that different doses of the drugs would have changed these results.  For example, a higher dose of one of the drugs could have created a higher preference among the rats for that drug.

(Disclaimer: Photo taken from http://aboutrehabs.com/addiction-information/crack-cocaine/)

            This experiment also seeks to show that if someone gets addicted to one specific drug, then they are more likely to stay addicted to that drug and not become addicted to another drug. You can think of it as liking your favorite ice cream.  If it is your favorite and you are addicted to it (although I don't know too many people addicted to ice cream), then you are more likely to get the same flavor.  After all, why would you want vanilla if you already love chocolate?

Word Count: 418

Reference:

Kearns, David N.; Riley, Anthony L.; Tunstall, Brenden J. (2014). Drug Specificity in Drug verses Food Choice in Male Rats. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from             http://psycnet.apa.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/journals/pha/22/4/364.pdf.