Comparative study of the abuse liability of alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam, methaqualone, and placebo |
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Authors: | M H Orzack L Friedman E Dessain M Bird B Beake J McEachern J O Cole |
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Institution: | McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts 02178. |
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Abstract: | Subjective effects of two benzodiazepines--alprazolam and lorazepam--were compared with two drugs of known abuse potential--diazepam and methaqualone--and placebo. This double-blind, crossover trial tested 30 casual recreational sedative users in a seminaturalistic setting. Methaqualone was more euphoriant and less sedative than the benzodiazepines. Diazepam and lorazepam were more euphoriant than placebo; alprazolam's euphoriant effect did not differ from these treatments. On other measures of abuse liability the benzodiazepines rated similarly, diazepam rating highest. |
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