This book chapter (2016) investigates animal models of drug abuse potential (addiction) of psychedelics. It finds that MDMA is self-administered (by mice) but less frequently than (meth)amphetamine or two novel psychedelic compounds (4MMC, methylone).
Abstract
“Animal models of drug self-administration are currently the gold standard for making predictions regarding the relative likelihood that a recreational drug substance will lead to continued use and addiction. Such models have been found to have high predictive accuracy and discriminative validity for a number of drug classes including ethanol, nicotine, opioids, and psychostimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Members of the entactogen class of psychostimulants (drugs that produce an “open mind state” including feelings of interpersonal closeness, intimacy and empathy) have been less frequently studied in self-administration models. The prototypical entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; “Ecstasy”) supports self-administration but not with the same consistency nor with the same efficacy as structurally related drugs amphetamine or methamphetamine. Consistent with these observations, MDMA use is more episodic in the majority of those who use it frequently. Nevertheless, substantial numbers of MDMA users will meet the criteria for substance dependence at some point in their use history. This review examines the currently available evidence from rodent self-administration studies of MDMA and two of the new and emerging psychoactive substances (NPS) that produce entactogen type neuropharmacological responses – mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone; 4MMC; “meow meow”) and methylone (3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone). Overall, the current evidence predicts that these NPS entactogens have enhanced abuse liability compared with MDMA.“
Authors: Shawn M. Aarde & Michael A. Taffe
Summary of Predicting the Abuse Liability of Entactogen-Class, New and Emerging Psychoactive Substances via Preclinical Models of Drug Self-administration
Current Epidemiology of Entactogen Use
Greer claimed that MDMA had low abuse liability because its use was self-limiting, but studies have shown that significant proportions of heavy Ecstasy users meet criteria for dependence at some point in their use history, and there are case reports of Ecstasy use patterns that are daily or at least several times per week.
Recreational use of cathinone derivative stimulant drugs (bath salts) has increased substantially since 2009 and continues to expand worldwide. Mephedrone and methylone are similar to MDMA and have sustained popularity despite legal controls, and have joined drugs such as MDMA or cocaine in user populations.