Co-occurrence of Abuse of Different Drugs in Men

Authors:
  • JMJoanne M. Meyer
    Joanne M. Meyer
  • TDThomas Doyle
    Thomas Doyle
  • SESeth A. Eisen
    Seth A. Eisen
  • JGJack Goldberg
    Jack Goldberg
  • WTWilliam True
    William True
  • NLNong Lin
    Nong Lin
  • RTRosemary Toomey
    Rosemary Toomey
  • LELindon Eaves
    Lindon Eaves
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Abstract
AN IMPORTANT issue in the investigation of vulnerability to drug abuse is whether there is a specific vulnerability for 1 drug (such as cocaine), a class of drugs (such as stimulants),1-6 or psychoactive substances in general. Glantz7 suggested that, at least for some abusers, the particular drug abused is almost incidental; it is the effect that motivates the individual. Abusers may use different drugs in different fashions to try to obtain the desired effect. In criticizing disease models of substance abuse because they imply that each type of addiction has a specific etiology, Tarter and Mezzich8(p171) concluded that "there is no definitive evidence indicating that individuals who habitually and preferentially use one substance are fundamentally different from those who use another." A generalized behavioral disposition, or risk, is supported by the following observations: (1) individuals who terminate abuse of one substance often initiate use of another; (2) no vulnerability factors have been identified that indicate risk for one particular substance; and (3) there is little evidence that abuse of any drug, such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or alcohol, "breeds true" within a particular family. Molecular, behavioral, and cellular research have elucidated central nervous system pathways that affect responses to ethanol, central nervous system stimulants, opiates, and marijuana9-11 and suggest unique as well as shared mechanisms of sensitivity, neuroadaptation, and reward.

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