Study sessions were scheduled between 3 and 30 days apart. Participants typically arrived at the day hospital unit at 11:00 am on the day of testing after abstaining from alcohol for 48 hours. A breathalyzer test was performed to ensure a zero BrAC. A urine sample was collected for a urine drug screen for all participants and a urine beta-hCG test for females; both were required to be negative to continue participation in the study. Participants received a light snack and completed brief medical and drinking history questionnaires. An indwelling i.v. catheter was then inserted into a vein in the antecubital fossa of (preferably) the nondominant arm using sterile technique. This catheter was used for the alcohol infusion.
The participant was seated in a comfortable chair in a study room in the day hospital unit, out of sight of the infusion pumps and technician’s screen, then instructed in the procedures and limits for selecting alcohol self-infusions in the paradigm. Participants were told to administer alcohol as if they were in a social situation in which they usually drink alcohol. To control the ambient environment during the self-administration session, participants were allowed to watch television or listen to music. The experimenter was available to monitor the infusion and obtain breathalyzer readings as well as to answer any questions raised by the participants and to occasionally inquire about the well-being of the participant.
Subjective measures were obtained serially to assess alcohol effects. These measures were collected at baseline as well as during the directed priming phase (at the 10- and 20-minute time points) and 8 times during the IV-ASA session every 15 minutes, with a final postinfusion measure 15 minutes after the IV-ASA had ended. These measures took roughly 5 minutes to complete. Subjects were allowed to press for more alcohol during data collection so as to not interfere with the subject’s opportunity to self-administer alcohol. These included the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) (Bohn et al., 1995 (link)) and Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) (Fischman and Foltin, 1991 (link)).
At the end of the free-access phase, the infusion pump was disconnected, and the i.v. catheter was removed from the participant’s arm. Lunch was provided and serial breathalyzer tests tracked the BrAC. Participants were asked to stay in the hospital for at least 2 hours after the end of the self-administration or until their BrAC level fell <20 mg%, whichever was later. At this time, participants were debriefed and sent home in a taxi paid for by NIH. The total duration of the session was approximately 7 hours. Study participants were instructed to refrain from medications and operating any machinery requiring concentration for at least 2 hours following their release from the unit.
The participant was seated in a comfortable chair in a study room in the day hospital unit, out of sight of the infusion pumps and technician’s screen, then instructed in the procedures and limits for selecting alcohol self-infusions in the paradigm. Participants were told to administer alcohol as if they were in a social situation in which they usually drink alcohol. To control the ambient environment during the self-administration session, participants were allowed to watch television or listen to music. The experimenter was available to monitor the infusion and obtain breathalyzer readings as well as to answer any questions raised by the participants and to occasionally inquire about the well-being of the participant.
Subjective measures were obtained serially to assess alcohol effects. These measures were collected at baseline as well as during the directed priming phase (at the 10- and 20-minute time points) and 8 times during the IV-ASA session every 15 minutes, with a final postinfusion measure 15 minutes after the IV-ASA had ended. These measures took roughly 5 minutes to complete. Subjects were allowed to press for more alcohol during data collection so as to not interfere with the subject’s opportunity to self-administer alcohol. These included the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) (Bohn et al., 1995 (link)) and Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) (Fischman and Foltin, 1991 (link)).
At the end of the free-access phase, the infusion pump was disconnected, and the i.v. catheter was removed from the participant’s arm. Lunch was provided and serial breathalyzer tests tracked the BrAC. Participants were asked to stay in the hospital for at least 2 hours after the end of the self-administration or until their BrAC level fell <20 mg%, whichever was later. At this time, participants were debriefed and sent home in a taxi paid for by NIH. The total duration of the session was approximately 7 hours. Study participants were instructed to refrain from medications and operating any machinery requiring concentration for at least 2 hours following their release from the unit.
