Abstract
A DEBATE has arisen over whether there is a relationship between alcohol and morphine addictions. With the classical phenomena associated with addiction there is little or no evidence for a connection between the two drugs1–4. The short-term effects are different, the withdrawal symptoms are different, morphine antagonists do not precipitate withdrawal in alcohol-dependent animals, and usually no cross-dependencies or cross-tolerances have been found, although there are reports of increased tolerance for morphine in mice that have been habituated to alcohol5 and in some human alcoholics6.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Get just this article for as long as you need it
$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Goldstein, A., and Judson, B. A., Science, N.Y., 172, 290 (1971).
Haluska, P. V., and Hoffman, P. C., Science, N.Y., 169, 1104 (1970).
Seevers, M. H., Science, N.Y., 170, 113 (1972).
Stolerman, I. P., Kumar, R., and Steinberg, H., Psychopharmacologia, 20, 321 (1971).
Venho, I., Eerola, R., Venho, E. V., and Vartiainen, O., Ann. Med. exp. Biol. Fenn., 33, 249 (1955).
Seevers, M. H., and Deneau, G. A., in Physiological Pharmacology (edit. by Root, W. S., and Hofmann, F. G.), 565 (Academic, New York, 1963).
Isbell, H., Fraser, H. F., Wikler, A., Belleville, R. E., and Eisenman, A. J., Q. Jl Stud. Alc., 16, 1 (1955).
Kalant, H., and Dews, P. E., in Experimental Approaches to the Study of Drug Dependence (edit. by Kalant, H., and Hawkins, R. D.), 109 (Univ. of Toronto Press, Toronto, 1969).
Nichols, J., and Hsiao, S., Science, N.Y., 157, 561 (1967).
Eriksson, K., and Kiianmaa, K., Ann. Med. exp. Biol. Fenn., 49, 73 (1972).
LeMagnen, J., J. Physiol., Paris, 52, 873 (1960).
Sinclair, J. D., and Senter, R. J., Psychon. Sci., 8, 11 (1967).
Sinclair, J. D., and Senter, R. J., Q. Jl Stud. Alc., 29, 863 (1968).
Sinclair, J. D., Q. Jl Stud. Alc., 33, 769 (1972).
Sinclair, J. D., Psychon. Sci., 25, 21 (1971).
Sinclair, J. D., Walker, S., and Jordan, B., Q. Jl Stud. Alc. (in the press).
Parker, L., Failor, A., and Weidman, K., J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 82, 294 (1973).
Maier, S. F., Zahorik, D. M., and Albin, R. W., J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 74, 254 (1971).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SINCLAIR, J., ADKINS, J. & WALKER, S. Morphine-induced Suppression of Voluntary Alcohol Drinking in Rats. Nature 246, 425–427 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/246425a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/246425a0
This article is cited by
-
Opioid antagonists in the treatment of alcohol dependence
Current Psychiatry Reports (2001)
-
Defective habituation to nociceptive stimulation in alcohol-avoiding ANA rats
Psychopharmacology (1995)
-
Genetics of alcoholism: Role of the endogenous opioid system
Metabolic Brain Disease (1994)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
