Clinical outcomes following cocaine infusion in nontreatment-seeking individuals with cocaine dependence

Background: In this study we explored if laboratory-based cocaine administration to human subjects was associated with long-term adverse outcomes. Methods: Twenty-one non–treatment seeking individuals with cocaine dependence were evaluated at baseline and again 5 and 10 months following cocaine infusion in a brain imaging study. Outcomes included computer-driven multidimensional clinical assessments and radioimmunoassay of hair. For comparison, identical data were collected from 19 cocaine-dependent subjects who did not receive the infusion. Results: The infused and noninfused groups did not differ on frequency of cocaine use (corroborated by radioimmunoassay of hair), Addiction Severity Index drug composite score, or Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score at both follow-up time points. In a time-related trend analysis, both groups showed significant reductions in frequency of cocaine use. Conclusions: Laboratory-based cocaine administration can be a safe paradigm even in individuals who are not engaged in treatment.