title: Experiencing Effects of Cocaine and Speed with Self-Regulation Therapy.
abstract: This study demonstrates the efficacy of Self-Regulation Therapy (SRT) to induce effects of cocaine and speed in a single session. SRT is a suggestion procedure of sensorial recall exercises (salivation, feeling of weight, tension, etc.) that increases the capacity to reproduce all sensation types and those that drugs produce. The Self-Regulation Scale (SRS) measures this capacity. Four groups participated, formed according to drug use: Group 1 (uses no illegal drugs); Group 2 (experimentally uses cannabis only); Group 3 (moderate drug users); Group 4 (regular drug users, especially stimulants). All four groups participated in an SRT session to induce relaxation. No differences in the SRS were found. Group 4 also participated in a session that reproduced effects of drugs with SRT, when Euphoria and the Effects of drugs score (high and rush) substantially increased in relation to the base-line (MD = -5.83; p < .001; and MD = -3; p < .001, respectively) and in relation to the relaxation session (MD = -4.06; p < .001; and MD = -1.96; p < .05, respectively). A profile predicting SRT efficacy was also obtained to induce the effects of cocaine and speed: low Conscientiousness and high Openness and SRS scores. Finally, the potential use of this procedure to treat addictions, and strategy development towards more controlled, responsible drug use, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Universitat de Valencia (Spain).
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amigó
authors.affiliation: Universitat de Valencia (Spain).
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrández
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D000068356:Self-Control / Q000523:psychology*; D013404:Suggestion; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D000661:Amphetamine; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: cocaine; drug effects reproduction; personality; self-regulation therapy