Alcoholics' disposition to drink. Effects of abstinence and heavy drinking.

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Abstract
Disposition to drink was measured on a progressive-ratio scheduled procedure which allowed alcoholics to work (key press) to reduce the delay in receiving a drink containing 2 oz (60 ml) of 47.5% alcohol. In the 1st experiment, 8 men were tested every morning for the first 7 days following detoxication (group I) and 4 were tested for 7 days beginning 1 wk after detoxication (group II). Half of each group was detoxicated with declining doses of alcohol (from 16-8 oz of 47.5% alcohol daily) and half with chlordiazepoxide (200-50 mg daily). In group I the number of key presses decreased from about 3250 on day 1 to about 1300 on day 7; in group II the key-pressing rate remained at about 250/day over the 7 days. There were no significant differences between the subjects detoxicated with alcohol and chlordiazepoxide. Following detoxication alcoholics'' disposition to drink weakens, a stable and low disposition being reached after about 11 days of abstinence. In the 2nd experiment, 4 men (mean age 38) were detoxicated and then tested with the same procedure during 5 days of abstinence (except for the target drink) and then for 5-day periods during each of which they drank 16, 24 and 30 oz of 47.5% alcohol. Knowledge that a large amount of alcohol is available increases disposition to drink, and heavy drinking increases the disposition until the daily consumption exceeds about 24 oz of 47.5% alcohol.

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