TY - JOUR
T1 - Acute administration of oxycodone, alcohol, and their combination on simulated driving—preliminary outcomes in healthy adults
AU - Babalonis, Shanna
AU - Coe, Marion A.
AU - Nuzzo, Paul A.
AU - Lofwall, Michelle R.
AU - Ali, Nur
AU - Sloan, Paul A.
AU - Fanucchi, Laura C.
AU - Walsh, Sharon L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - Rationale: Epidemiological data indicate that drivers testing positive for an opioid drug are twice as likely to cause a fatal car crash; however, there are limited controlled data available. Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to assess the effects of a therapeutic dose range of oxycodone alone and in combination with alcohol on simulated driving performance. Methods: Healthy participants (n = 10) completed this within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized outpatient study. Six 7-h sessions were completed during which oxycodone (0, 5, 10 mg, p.o.) was administered 30 min before alcohol (0, 0.8 g/kg (15% less for women), p.o.) for a total of 6 test conditions. Driving assessments and participant-, observer-rated, psychomotor and physiological measures were collected in regular intervals before and after drug administration. Results: Oxycodone alone (5, 10 mg) did not produce any changes in driving outcomes or psychomotor task performance, relative to placebo (p > 0.05); however, 10 mg oxycodone produced increases in an array of subjective ratings, including sedation and impairment (p < 0.05). Alcohol alone produced driving impairment (e.g., decreased lateral control) (p < 0.05); however, oxycodone did not potentiate alcohol-related driving or subjective effects. Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that acute doses of oxycodone (5, 10 mg) do not significantly impair acuity on laboratory-based simulated driving models; however, 10 mg oxycodone produced increases in self-reported outcomes that are not compatible with safe driving behavior (e.g., sedation, impairment). Additional controlled research is needed to determine how opioid misuse (higher doses; parenteral routes of administration) impacts driving risk.
AB - Rationale: Epidemiological data indicate that drivers testing positive for an opioid drug are twice as likely to cause a fatal car crash; however, there are limited controlled data available. Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to assess the effects of a therapeutic dose range of oxycodone alone and in combination with alcohol on simulated driving performance. Methods: Healthy participants (n = 10) completed this within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized outpatient study. Six 7-h sessions were completed during which oxycodone (0, 5, 10 mg, p.o.) was administered 30 min before alcohol (0, 0.8 g/kg (15% less for women), p.o.) for a total of 6 test conditions. Driving assessments and participant-, observer-rated, psychomotor and physiological measures were collected in regular intervals before and after drug administration. Results: Oxycodone alone (5, 10 mg) did not produce any changes in driving outcomes or psychomotor task performance, relative to placebo (p > 0.05); however, 10 mg oxycodone produced increases in an array of subjective ratings, including sedation and impairment (p < 0.05). Alcohol alone produced driving impairment (e.g., decreased lateral control) (p < 0.05); however, oxycodone did not potentiate alcohol-related driving or subjective effects. Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that acute doses of oxycodone (5, 10 mg) do not significantly impair acuity on laboratory-based simulated driving models; however, 10 mg oxycodone produced increases in self-reported outcomes that are not compatible with safe driving behavior (e.g., sedation, impairment). Additional controlled research is needed to determine how opioid misuse (higher doses; parenteral routes of administration) impacts driving risk.
KW - Alcohol
KW - Driving simulator
KW - Drugged driving
KW - Ethanol
KW - Human
KW - Impairment
KW - Opioid
KW - Oxycodone
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U2 - 10.1007/s00213-020-05702-w
DO - 10.1007/s00213-020-05702-w
M3 - Article
C2 - 33169203
AN - SCOPUS:85095707585
SN - 0033-3158
VL - 238
SP - 539
EP - 549
JO - Psychopharmacology
JF - Psychopharmacology
IS - 2
ER -