Effects of THC on Alcohol Consumption and Neural Correlates of Reward

Summary

Alcohol and cannabis are often used together such that their effects overlap, but little is known about the neural mechanisms that underlie simultaneous use. High doses of THC have not been well-studied in the laboratory, and it is unclear how high doses of THC may impact alcohol consumption patterns. The proposed study will explore the effects of oral THC (20mg dronabinol) vs. placebo on neural reward, alcohol self-administration and naturalistic co-use patterns.

Detailed Description

Participants will undergo a screening assessment, baseline session and two laboratory visits. The laboratory visits will involve an MRI scan and the opportunity to consume alcohol in our BAR lab. Prior to the MRI, participants will consume, a placebo (0mg) or high (20mg) dose of oral THC (dronabinol). Visits will be separated by 7 to 14 days. Dronabinol is an FDA-approved product that will be dispensed by our on-campus pharmacy

Eligibility Criteria

Interventions