What has animal research shown about drug abuse?
The reinforcing, or rewarding properties of a drug can be determined by testing whether or not an animal will self-administer the compound. To date, it has been found that all addicting drugs used by humans have similar effects on non-human primates, except for marijuana and hallucinogens. This type of research yields valuable information about the potential abuse of newly developed drugs by comparing the effects with those of drugs that are known to be addicting. Animal research has also shown how important learning factors are in the maintenance and relapse of drug-seeking behavior. Is animal research on drug abuse still needed? With the constant development of new drugs it is important to be able to evaluate the potential for dependence in animals before being marketed for human use. Animal research can also provide insights into the multiple factors responsible for drug abuse. For instance, identifying the exact neural systems involved in producing the reinforcing effects of drugs
