Cocaine and herion dependence compared in poly-drug abusers

Abstract

Concerns about cocaine dependence are increasing, in some ways replacing heroin as the focus of highest concern. We compared cocaine and heroin dependence by levels of cocaine and heroin use in poly-drug users. While dependence indicators differed markedly between regular and sporadic users of these drugs, cocaine dependence indicators did not differ from heroin dependence indicators. Implications of the findings are discussed.