Liking of the First Drug Experience: A Comparison of Ten Drugs in Opiate Addicts

Abstract

Opiate addicts ( n = 67) were asked how much they liked their first experience with 10 drugs and the number of trials required to like each drug. The initial experience with cocaine was the most well-liked but it could not be differentiated from heroin which was liked second best. The order of liking scores for the other drugs were morphine, marijuana, methadone, Benzedrine, codeine, cigarettes, “goofballs” (barbiturates), and alcohol. Liking of heroin was not differentiated from morphine or marijuana but liking for it was greater than for the seven remaining drugs. Initial liking of heroin and marijuana is contrary to the conclusions of Beecher (1959) and Becker (1953). The pattern of liking of the first experience with drugs was highly related to the patterns for current appetites and verbal habits for drugs and somewhat related to the days of use of drugs and the percentage of subjects who had been “hooked” on the drugs. The scores for heroin on the various indices were the most uniformly elevated. In contrast, these indices for cigarettes were erratic.