The Effects of Alcohol Priming on the Subsequent Value of Alcohol

Objective: Previous research has investigated the effects of substance priming (i.e., substance exposure or preload) on the subsequent value of alcohol. Studies suggest that substance priming may serve as a cue. resulting in increased desire for the substance or drug-related behavior; however. results have been inconsistent. The current studies aimed to examine the effects of a priming dose of alcohol, compared with placebo, on the relative reinforcing effects of subsequent alcohol. Method: Undergraduate students (Study 1: N = 46 [33 women]; Study 2: N= 69 [50 women]) completed the Multiple Choice Procedure (MCP) during individual, lab-based sessions. The MCP was used to assess the relative reinforcing value of alcohol compared with concurrently available alternatives. Study 1 compared a standard dose of alcohol (one standard drink) with placebo, and Study 2 compared g/kg dosing of alcohol (controlling for gender) with placebo. Results: Data revealed no statistically significant priming effect of alcohol on the subsequent value of alcohol in either study. Conclusions: The conditions under which alcohol priming does (and does not) occur are still not fully understood, and further systematic work is necessary to determine potential clinical utility.