Effects of body weight reduction and food deprivation on cocaine self-administration.

The present experiments attempted to study the effects of food deprivation and body weight reduction on cocaine self-administration. Rats whose body weight was reduced to 80% free feeding weight (FFW) with 23 hours' food deprivation increased cocaine intake by 30-fold compared to 100% FFW animals. The results demonstrated that, in rats, body weight reduction and the state of food deprivation interact to further enhance self-administration of cocaine. From the practical point of view, the results suggest that there may be an increased risk of drug dependence with patients taking stimulants to control body weight.