Planaria as a model for the effects of the co-use of alcohol and nicotine

Abstract

Poly drug abuse is the abuse of more than one drug, often simultaneously, and is common in many drug-abusers in real-life conditions (Raffa, 2008). The co-use of alcohol and cigarettes is especially prevalent among heavy drinkers such as those diagnosed with alcoholism or alcohol abuse (Bobo & Husten, 2000). The purpose of this study is to gain further insight into the potential mechanisms involved in the poly-drug abuse of alcohol and cigarettes by observing the withdrawal effects of each individual drug versus the combined drugs in the planarian flatworm. Planarian locomotor velocity (pLMV) and atypical behaviours are the behavioural paradigms used in this experiment to quantify the withdrawal effects observed. Results reveal a complex relationship between alcohol and nicotine with interactions between concentration and exposure time to influence the poly-drug relationship.