Alcohol Interactions with Psychostimulants: An Overview of Animal and Human Studies

Alcohol dependence is considered a major public health problem worldwide. Alcohol can contribute to a significant number of disabilities due to psychological, medical, injury, or other detrimental effects . These effects can be dramatically severe when alcohol is consumed with other drugs of abuse. Alcohol consumption with other drugs of abuse is very common among drug users. Different pharmacological mechanisms of interactions may occur when alcohol and other psychostimulants are co-abused. It is noteworthy that drugs of abuse have been shown to alter central brain reward circuitry, which can lead addicts to increase their alcohol intake for reward effects .Alcohol use with other drugs of abuse has been reported to hinder decision making, thinking, and neurocognitive capabilities. Moreover, recent studies confirmed that alcohol and other drugs of abuse are usually found in the blood of deceased or seriously injured drivers involved in traffic accidents caused by psychomotor function impairment.

We discussed here several findings related to alcohol interactions with psychostimulants. According to previous reports, alcohol is commonly abused with methamphetamine (METH), cocaine and marijuana.Men have higher prevalence of co-abuse of alcohol and other drugs compared to women . The prevalence of drugs of abuse has been shown to have a positive correlation with the level of alcohol intake . We reviewed here the available literature regarding alcohol interactions with certain psychostimulants, including METH, cocaine, nicotine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetaminen (MDMA), according to animal experimental and clinical studies.

METH abuse is an increasing health problem worldwide. According to the available data from national surveys between the years of 2002 and 2004, more than 16 million Americans over the age of 12 have used METH. METH is a derivative of amphetamine with increased CNS activities and effects. METH can be abused by different routes such as inhalation, ingestion, or intravenous injection, with acute effects that can last for up to 24 h.It is well known that METH can stimulate the release of monoamines such as dopamine and norepinephrine to produce euphoria and to increase alertness and libido.METH abusers frequently use alcohol and have a higher risk of reaching alcohol intoxication level.