Marijuana's Impact on Alcohol Motivation and Consumption
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric, Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 21 - 44 |
| Updated: | 1/18/2019 |
| Start Date: | January 23, 2017 |
| End Date: | May 2020 |
| Contact: | Jane Metrik, PhD |
| Email: | Jane_Metrik@brown.edu |
| Phone: | 4018636650 |
This laboratory study will employ a repeated measures experimental design to examine the
effect of high (7.2% THC) and moderate (3% THC) dose of marijuana, relative to placebo, on
alcohol craving and on behavioral economic measure of alcohol demand after exposure to
alcohol cues, and on subsequent drinking in an alcohol choice task in which participants
choose either to drink or receive monetary reinforcement for drinks not consume. The study
will recruit 173 non-treatment seeking heavy episodic alcohol drinkers who smoke marijuana at
least twice weekly.
effect of high (7.2% THC) and moderate (3% THC) dose of marijuana, relative to placebo, on
alcohol craving and on behavioral economic measure of alcohol demand after exposure to
alcohol cues, and on subsequent drinking in an alcohol choice task in which participants
choose either to drink or receive monetary reinforcement for drinks not consume. The study
will recruit 173 non-treatment seeking heavy episodic alcohol drinkers who smoke marijuana at
least twice weekly.
This laboratory study will employ a repeated measures experimental design to examine the
effect of high (7.2% THC) and moderate (3.0% THC) dose of marijuana, relative to placebo, on
alcohol craving and on behavioral economic measure of alcohol demand after exposure to
alcohol cues, and on subsequent drinking in an alcohol choice task in which participants
choose either to drink or receive monetary reinforcement for drinks not consumed. Moderators
of the marijuana's effects on alcohol-related dependent variables will be tested: DSM5
alcohol use disorder severity, affective vulnerability, trait impulsivity, and working memory
functioning. Several empirically-determined mechanisms that may explain why marijuana may
increase risk of alcohol relapse and help maintain heavy drinking will be tested as mediators
of marijuana's effects on alcohol. The study will recruit 173 non-treatment seeking heavy
episodic alcohol drinkers who smoke marijuana at least twice weekly to obtain the final
sample of 150 with complete data (15% of attrition). Participants will be tested at a
baseline session and during three experimental sessions. Investigators will collect blood
samples for analysis of cannabinoid plasma levels and to examine marijuana-induced changes in
hormones and other biomarkers potentially related to appetite, inflammation and stress.
Collection of these biomarkers would allow for a greater understanding about the mechanisms
whereby marijuana may acutely increase alcohol motivation and use. The findings will inform
researchers and clinicians about how marijuana acutely increases alcohol craving and
consumption. The strategy of this proposal is to use the most comprehensive controlled test
characterizing marijuana's putative effects on alcohol.
effect of high (7.2% THC) and moderate (3.0% THC) dose of marijuana, relative to placebo, on
alcohol craving and on behavioral economic measure of alcohol demand after exposure to
alcohol cues, and on subsequent drinking in an alcohol choice task in which participants
choose either to drink or receive monetary reinforcement for drinks not consumed. Moderators
of the marijuana's effects on alcohol-related dependent variables will be tested: DSM5
alcohol use disorder severity, affective vulnerability, trait impulsivity, and working memory
functioning. Several empirically-determined mechanisms that may explain why marijuana may
increase risk of alcohol relapse and help maintain heavy drinking will be tested as mediators
of marijuana's effects on alcohol. The study will recruit 173 non-treatment seeking heavy
episodic alcohol drinkers who smoke marijuana at least twice weekly to obtain the final
sample of 150 with complete data (15% of attrition). Participants will be tested at a
baseline session and during three experimental sessions. Investigators will collect blood
samples for analysis of cannabinoid plasma levels and to examine marijuana-induced changes in
hormones and other biomarkers potentially related to appetite, inflammation and stress.
Collection of these biomarkers would allow for a greater understanding about the mechanisms
whereby marijuana may acutely increase alcohol motivation and use. The findings will inform
researchers and clinicians about how marijuana acutely increases alcohol craving and
consumption. The strategy of this proposal is to use the most comprehensive controlled test
characterizing marijuana's putative effects on alcohol.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 21 to 44
- English-speaking
- marijuana smoking in past month
- report of current heavy episodic (binge) drinking
- in good physical health and weighing < 250 lbs
- zero breath alcohol at each visit
Exclusion Criteria:
- history of seizures
- smoking >20 tobacco cigarettes per day
- positive pregnancy test
- nursing
- positive urine toxicology screen for drugs other than cannabis
- interest to quit or receive treatment for marijuana or alcohol use
- meeting criteria for a current affective disorder (depression, or mania, panic
disorder, and having psychotic symptoms as assessed by the SCID)
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