Rats and self administration of opiates (with previous drug regiems)

[p-mo]

Just finished watching the BBC Panorama episode about Marijuana use resulting in higher rates of Schizophrenia (especially whilst used in the teens).

The program itself was pretty dull- the best they could come up with is- Excessive cannabis use results in lasting changes to the dopamine systems of rats. What a suprise. But there was one interesting experiment shown which was that rats that were force fed cannibis during adolecence self administred heroin more frequently and due to a less degree of stress than rats that had not previously been exposed to cannabis.

I was wondering if any other studies of a similar sort had been performed, specifically with other initial drug regiems. Would administration of Alcohol, Nicotine or Amphetimines in adolecense also result in this higher rate of self administration of opiates. Also would a regiem of cannabis use during adolecense raise rates of self administration of other drugs (psychadelics alcohol, etc).

Ponderings on the subject more than welcome

 

[fastandbulbous]

It seems like a last ditch attempt to identify cannabis as a 'gateway' drug for later hard drug use. Thing is, any drug that targets the dopaminergic reward pathways is going to increase the likelyhood of later hard drug use:
for most people who later become dependant upon opiates or stimulants, alcohol or nicotine are much more likely candidates.

I wouldn't disagree with the findings mentioned in the program that heavy use of cannabis by 12 & 13 year olds will cause a change in the way that connections form in the human brain, and could have a consequence in later life, but using that as a basis to reclassify cannabis as a class B drug is such a hypocritical exercise considering that using alcohol at that age will have a much greater effect, but you don't see anybody demanding the introduction of prohibition.

If they decriminalized cannabis, they could have more control over the chances of 12 & 13 year olds obtaining it (as with alcohol), but when has common sense ever had a role in government policy making?

 

[p-mo]

If they decriminalized cannabis, they could have more control over the chances of 12 & 13 year olds obtaining it (as with alcohol), but when has common sense ever had a role in government policy making?

Of course. I know for a fact that the only reason that I smoked more dope when I was 11-17 was because it was easier to get hold of than alcohol.

Has there been proven evidence that nicotine alters the dopaminergic reward pathways? I know that alcohol, speed, benzos and opiates have all been studied but I havent heard any reports of nicotine studies (or maybe I'm just not looking hard enough- I mean nicotine and tobacco smoke are one of the most studied areas of drug research).

Anyways I'm all for complete goverment regulation of every drug. I mean think of the difference it could make to columbia if the columbian goverment could start LEGALLY exporting cocaine to the UK.

After seeing the program I can see more scientific evidence for the 'gateway' theroy of cannabis use than ever before. But obviouslly no more than alcohol, at least until more studies are performed- which is the point of the Q.

 

[sweet jimmy brown]

My girlfriend told me about a study she learned about in one of her many drug addiction/behavioral neruroscience courses in college which concluded that drug use in adolescents left an imprint which made other drugs more rewarding later in life for that individual (or rat). I wish she was here right now so I could get the actual refrence. I have her papers but... 3 years of drug related printouts... I like this site but c'mon.

 

[slyvan wanderer]

If they decriminalized cannabis, they could have more control over the chances of 12 & 13 year olds obtaining it (as with alcohol), but when has common sense ever had a role in government policy making?

cannabis would probably be better compared with tobacco as they are both the same relative size. Its hard to "deal" alcohol because of the size of it, but I am also sure less places would sell cannabis so it would be not be as pervasive as cigarettes.

I think cannabis shouoldn't be compared to alcohol is this way nearly as much, but i don't think it would be as prevalent as tobacco either.

Maybe the governement sanction that it is okay for adults would make less people sell to kids.

anyways...

I think the pattern/habit of drug abuse is establsihed earleir than the person doesn't have enough time to separate drugs as recreation as a habit. There is less 'away' to remeber, its kid, then drug user. If its more of an adult right I would think it would be handeled as a pleasure rather than a need.