Considering the context: social factors in responses to drugs in humans

Psychopharmacology
Harriet de Wit, Michael Sayette

Abstract

Drugs are typically used in social settings. Here, we consider two factors that may contribute to this observation: (i) the presence of other people may enhance the positive mood effects of a drug, and conversely, (ii) drugs may enhance the value of social stimuli. We review evidence from controlled laboratory studies with human volunteers, which investigated either of these interactions between social factors and responses to drugs. We examine the bidirectional effects of social stimuli and single doses of alcohol, stimulants, opioids, and cannabis. All four classes of drugs interact with social contexts, but the nature of these interactions varies across drugs, and depends on whether the context is positive or negative. Alcohol and stimulant drugs enhance the attractiveness of social stimuli and the desire to socialize, and social contexts, in turn, enhance these drugs' effects. In contrast, opioids and cannabis have subtler effects on social interactions and their effects are less influenced by the presence of others. Overall, there is stronger evidence that drugs enhance positive social contexts than that they dampen the negativity of unpleasant social settings. Controlled research is needed to understand the interactions b...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1979·Journal of Studies on Alcohol·A M CooperM B Sobell
Jul 1, 1978·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·M L StitzerI Liebson
Oct 1, 1977·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·R R GriffithsI Liebson
Jun 1, 1975·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·B D Caudill, G A Marlatt
Mar 1, 1976·Archives of General Psychiatry·T F BaborM Davies
Dec 1, 1989·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·J J RachlinskiM W Fischman
Nov 1, 1989·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·S T Higgins, M L Stitzer
Oct 1, 1986·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·G Greer, R Tolbert
Oct 1, 1986·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·J Buffum, C Moser
Jan 1, 1986·Psychopharmacology·S T Higgins, M L Stitzer
Jun 1, 1988·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·R W Foltin, M W Fischman
Sep 1, 1987·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·R W FoltinJ Dominitz
Aug 1, 1974·Journal of Abnormal Psychology·P Pliner, H Cappell
Jan 1, 1982·Addictive Behaviors·D W Watson, M B Sobell
Nov 1, 1994·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·T H KellyM W Fischman
Feb 1, 1993·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·C S MartinR M Swift
Jul 1, 1996·Intensive Care Medicine·A P HallB Riley
Mar 14, 1997·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·S WilliamsonJ Strang
Mar 30, 1999·Journal of Studies on Alcohol·B M Quigley, R L Collins
Apr 20, 2001·European Psychiatry : the Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·Z ZemishlanyA Weizman
Aug 13, 2002·Psychopharmacology·Debra S HarrisReese T Jones
Nov 14, 2002·Journal of Abnormal Psychology·Saul ShiffmanMaryann Gnys
Oct 18, 2003·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Manuel Tancer, Chris-Ellyn Johanson
Oct 8, 2005·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Richard A Depue, Jeannine V Morrone-Strupinsky
Jul 5, 2006·Behavior Research Methods·Kipling D Williams, Blair Jarvis
Jul 19, 2006·Journal of Studies on Alcohol·Thomas R KirchnerJohn M Levine
Dec 12, 2007·Psychopharmacology·Katarina GospicPredrag Petrovic
Jan 25, 2008·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Marije aan het RotSimon N Young
Aug 8, 2008·Alcohol and Alcoholism : International Journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism·Lycia L C ParkerMarcus R Munafò
Nov 14, 2008·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·José Carlos BousoGregorio Gómez-Jarabo
Mar 11, 2009·Journal of Psychopharmacology·P Ø Johansen, T S Krebs
Aug 15, 2009·Psychopharmacology·Gillinder BediHarriet de Wit
Dec 9, 2009·Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology·Jennifer E MerrillJennifer P Read
Nov 16, 2010·Clinical Psychology Review·Kelly S DeMartini, Kate B Carey

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 20, 2019·Substance Use & Misuse·Mateo Leganes-FonteneauPilar Tejero
Mar 11, 2020·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·William R CorbinRobert F Leeman
May 5, 2021·Journal of Psychopharmacology·Harriet de WitCharles Grob
Nov 30, 2021·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Elizabeth R AstonJennifer E Merrill

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.