Overview of Animal Models of Drug Addiction: Commonalities to Human Addiction

Abstract

This chapter reviews approaches used to study aspects of human drug addiction in animals or animal models, with specific emphasis on alcohol, nicotine, opiates, and stimulants. A key feature of addicted rodents is the development of tolerance to the effects of the drug, a decrease in the initial effects of the drug. Addicted animals may also develop dependence, the appearance of abnormal behaviors when the drugs are abruptly discontinued. The withdrawal symptoms for alcohol can include anxiety-like behavior, seizures, and sometimes death. Another key feature of drug addiction pertinent to animals is that the animals willingly self-administer similar substances taken by humans; thus, findings..