BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Stimuli
that are repeatedly paired with substance use, such as drug paraphernalia, can
themselves elicit drug craving. The aim of this study was to examine whether
particular cue types elicit greater craving responses than others among
individuals with opioid dependence.
METHODS:
Participants
seeking inpatient treatment for opioid dependence were recruited for a study of
cue-induced craving. This sample (N = 50), included 25 primary heroin users, 20
primary prescription opioid users, and 5 users of heroin and prescription
opioids equally. Participants completed a cue reactivity task, in which images
of drug-related stimuli were presented on a computer screen, each followed by a
question assessing state drug craving.
RESULTS:
Overall,
participants reported higher craving following paraphernalia stimuli relative
to drug stimuli. However, this was moderated by opioid type; there was
significantly higher craving in response to images of paraphernalia cues in the
heroin group, and higher craving in response to drug cues in the prescription
opioid group.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
These
findings highlight potential differences in cue reactivity to opioid
paraphernalia and drug cues, which appears to be moderated by drug type.
SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE:
Cue-induced
craving is an important factor in relapse. This study adds further to the
literature on cue-induced craving in opioid dependence, suggesting that craving
may vary based on both cue type and opioid type. Future studies designed to
discriminate the impact of substance of abuse, route of administration, and cue
type will help to further clarify cue-induced craving in this population.
- 1Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.
- 2Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
- 3Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.
- Am J Addict. 2016 Feb 5. doi: 10.1111/ajad.12344.
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