The focus of my research has two broad aims.
The first aim is to screen compounds that will attenuate the subjective and reinforcing effects of abused drugs as part of a NIDA-funded contract searching for effective treatment drugs for addiction to cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, and marijuana.
The second aim is to evaluate the potential abuse liability of novel designer drugs that are increasingly available as "legal" alternatives to controlled substances. We use drug discrimination procedures which assess the subjective effects of common drugs of abuse such as cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, and marijuana, with designer drugs like MDMA (Ecstasy), with opioids like morphine, or with hallucinogens like LSD. We also test the reinforcing/rewarding effects of drugs using the conditioned place preference and self-administration assays.