Comparative study of the abuse liability of alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam, methaqualone, and placebo.
Subjective effects of two benzodiazepines--alprazolam and lorazepam--were compared with two drugs of known abuse potential--diazepam and methaqualone--and placebo. This double-blind, crossover trial tested 30 casual recreational sedative users in a seminaturalistic setting. Methaqualone was more euphoriant and less sedative than the benzodiazepines. Diazepam and lorazepam were more euphoriant than placebo; alprazolam's euphoriant effect did not differ from these treatments. On other measures of abuse liability the benzodiazepines rated similarly, diazepam rating highest.
Orzack
M H
MH
McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts 02178.
Friedman
L
L
Dessain
E
E
Bird
M
M
Beake
B
B
McEachern
J
J
Cole
J O
JO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000525:Alprazolam; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D003975:Diazepam; D005059:Euphoria / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam; D008297:Male; D008702:Methaqualone; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
D008702:Methaqualone; D008140:Lorazepam; D003975:Diazepam; D000525:Alprazolam