Abstract

A method has been developed for quantifying the "attitude" of addicts toward opiate-like drugs when administered in single or chronic dosages. Questionnaires were used which provided for independently prepared ratings by patients and observers.

In single doses, the effects of weak morphine-like drugs were readily differentiated from those of a placebo by both patients and aides. After single doses, the ratings of patients and observers were in good agreement; however, observers gave higher ratings than patients particularly in the parameters of "feel drug," identification as "dope," and degree of "liking."

Although potent opiates given chronically by the subcutaneous route were classified by both patients and observers in a comparable manner, those given orally were divergently described. Both patients and observers readily differentiated a placebo from weak morphine-like drugs. Patients discriminated between drugs and route of administration to a greater extent than did observers, and in a manner which corresponded better with abuse rates for heroin, morphine and codeine. However, before a statement can be made about the relative validity of patients' and observers' ratings, many more drugs must be evaluated by diverse routes of administration and employing a larger sample of the addict population.

A short, "double-blind," direct addiction, cross-over procedure of 18 to 20 days is satisfactory for developing significant degrees of physical dependence in the case of morphine and codeine-like drugs, but additional studies are necessary to determine its reliability for assessing the degree of physical dependence induced by weak compounds and compounds in the methadone and meperidine series.