title: The naturalistic oscillating patterns of alcohol consumption in alcoholic methadone patients.
abstract: The present study examined the temporal patterns of ethanol self-administration in alcoholics. Blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) for 12 methadone maintenance patients were assessed five times per week for 2 to 8 weeks and for two additional subjects for approximately 1 year. BACs indicated periods of high consumption alternating with brief periods of abstinence. This oscillating temporal pattern was stable over time. This result is consistent with self-administration found in laboratory studies of human and non-human alcohol self-administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington 05401.
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Bickel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rizzuto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012931:Social Environment; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D008691:Methadone