Interactions between nicotine and drugs of abuse: a review of preclinical findings

ABSTRACT

Polysubstance abuse is common among substance-use disorder patients, and nicotine is one of the most commonly co-used substances. Epidemiological and clinical laboratory studies suggest that nicotine, when combined with other drugs of abuse, increases intake of one or both substances. This review focuses on the preclinical literature regarding nicotine’s interaction with alcohol, stimulants (i.e., cocaine, amphetamines), opioids (i.e., morphine, heroin), and Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The current understanding of how these various classes of abused drugs may interact with nicotine on behavioral, physiological, and pharmacological indices that may be important in maintaining co-use of one or both substances in human populations are highlighted. Suggestions as to future areas of research and gaps in knowledge are offered.

KEYWORDS:

• Polysubstance use
• nicotine
• cocaine
• alcohol
• opioids
• THC
• preclinical

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Drs. Roger Spealman and Rajeev Desai for helpful comments and suggestions on an earlier version of the manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.

Funding

This work was funded by NIH grants DA039306 and DA026892.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by NIH grants DA039306 and DA026892.