Escalation patterns of varying periods of heroin access

LF Vendruscolo, JE Schlosburg, KK Misra… - Pharmacology …, 2011 - Elsevier
The prevalence of opioid abuse and dependence has been on the rise in just the past few
years. Animal studies indicate that extended access to heroin produces escalation of intake
over time, whereas stable intake is observed under limited-access conditions. Escalation of
drug intake has been suggested to model the transition from controlled drug use to
compulsive drug seeking and taking. Here, we directly compared the pattern of heroin intake
in animals with varying periods of heroin access. Food intake was also monitored over the …