Susceptibility to readdiction as a function of the addiction and withdrawal environments.

Abstract

Rats were orally addicted to morphine sulfate, experienced 30 days of withdrawal, and were readdicted. 1/2 the subjects experienced withdrawal in the same environment as that in which addiction occurred, and 1/2 in a different environment. Each of the withdrawal groups was subdivided and readdicted in either the same or different environments. Subjects readdicted in the same environment in which original addiction occurred readdicted more rapidly than those readdicted in a new environment. Initial preference for morphine during readdiction was greater for subjects that had experienced withdrawal in a different environment from that in which readdiction occurred.