Cannabinoid-alcohol interactions

Abstract

Marijuana and alcohol are two of the most commonly abused substances worldwide. Although the psychotropic effects of these drugs are mediated by distinct pharmacodynamic mechanisms, the similar physiological and neuropsychological effects of these drugs have long been recognized. This chapter focuses on interactive effects between cannabinoids and alcohol with a particular emphasis on the influence of endogenous cannabinoid (eCB) signaling on the motivation for alcohol consumption and the etiology of alcohol use disorders. Topics include the modulation of alcohol consumption by exogenous cannabinoid receptor agonists and antagonists, the influence of alcohol exposure on brain eCB formation and alcohol-induced disruptions in eCB-mediated synaptic plasticity. Associations between genetic variants in eCB signaling with alcohol use disorders are discussed along with a possible role of dysregulated eCB signaling in symptoms of alcohol dependence and protracted withdrawal. The chapter concludes with a brief consideration of the eCB system as a viable treatment target for alcohol dependence.