Drinking in alcoholics following an alcohol challenge research protocol.
OBJECTIVE
The present study examined the impact of participating in an alcohol administration study on the subsequent drinking behavior of 25 non-treatment-seeking alcoholics.


METHODS
Subjects attended two assessment sessions, followed by a week-long regimen on one of three pharmacological agents (naltrexone, nalmefene, or placebo), a day-long laboratory assessment including a standardized alcohol administration procedure, and a debriefing session consisting of individualized feedback and alcohol counseling. Follow-up consisted of a telephone interview 6 weeks after the alcohol challenge session.


RESULTS
At the follow-up interview, subjects reported significant reductions in drinking quantity and frequency from the prestudy period, and no subjects reported increased drinking following study participation.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that alcohol administration research procedures may not be detrimental to the poststudy drinking behavior of alcoholics. The use of such procedures could be cautiously expanded to improve the generalizability of findings for alcoholic populations of interest.
Drobes
D J
DJ
Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA.
Anton
R F
RF
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012106:Research; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone; C038981:nalmefene