Changing Patterns of Multiple Drug Use Among Applicants to a Multimodality Drug Treatment Program

Interaction of buprenorphine with cocaine-morphine combinations.

“…The self-administration of these two drugs in close proximity may be related to a unique combination of subjective effects. Given the significant abuse potential of morphine and cocaine alone, and in the combination known as speedballs on the street (Gould & Kleber, 1974; Schnoll, Karrigan, Kitchen, Daghestani, & Hansen, 1985), the data obtained with laboratory animals on the interactive effects of these drugs was quite small up to about 1990 (e.g., Blumberg & Ikeda, 1978; DeRossett & Holtzman, 1984; Evans & Wenger, 1990; Hatch & Fischer, 1972; Järbe, 1981; Misra, Pontani, & Vadlamani, 1987, 1989; Plunkett, Seifen, & Kennedy, 1989; Shannon, Cone, & Gorodetzky, 1984; Shimada, Tusda, & Yanagita, 1988; Wenger & Wright, 1990; Wood & Emmett-Oglesby, 1986). For example, pretreatment with morphine had no effects on IV cocaine self-administration by rhesus monkeys (Wilson & Schuster, 1970) but decreased IV cocaine self-administration by squirrel monkeys (Stretch, 1977).…”

Case study: The cognitive behavioral treatment of a multiple-drug abuser.

“…Copeman (1975) reported a 10-20% recovery rate for narcotic addicts, suggesting a relapse rate of approximately 80%. Drug abuse may involve the use of only one substance; however, the simultaneous or serial combination of a variety of drugs (multiple or polydrug abuse) is becoming more common (Freed, 1973;Gould & Kleker, 1974;Kaufman, 1976a). When faced with the multiple-drug abuser, traditional approaches to treatment seem likely to be even less effective (Gould & Kleker, 1974).…”