Monkeys And Addiction Research

          In 1969 three scientists - Gerald Deneau, Tomoji Yanagita, and M.H. Seevers - wanted to study addiction and drug dependency based on various drugs. These experiments took place at and were published by The University of Michigan Medical School. They developed an experiment to teach Rhesus monkeys how to self administer various drugs. Some of the drugs included morphine, cocaine, codeine, ethanol, and d-amphetamine. These were clearly very heavy drugs that would more than likely lead to addiction when administered continuously. 

          Once they were taught by scientists, monkeys were able to administer drugs by pulling a lever. This would allow for the drugs to be administered into their systems through a catheter installed in the jugular vein of the neck. If the monkeys refused to press the lever, food would be placed on the lever to coerce the monkey into starting the drug administration process, or the drugs would be forced through the catheter.

          After the monkeys were put through this routine repeatedly, the catheter was kinked in order to prevent drugs from being administered. Results stated that for the majority of drugs tested, the monkeys would repeatedly pull the lever in to try and obtain drugs. They were clearly going through drug withdrawal and addiction. This study allowed for scientists to learn about addiction and withdrawal, but at what cost? These monkeys were not able to voice their consent in the studies as they are animals. How ethical is it to perform experiments on a population that can’t give consent? 

Sources:

          Deneau, G. (1990). Addiction in the Monkey. This Week’s Citation Classic. https://garfield.library.upenn.edu/classics1990/A1990CL56100001.pdf

          Deneau, G., Yanagita, T., Seevers, M. H., & Department of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical School. (1969). Self-Administration of Psychoactive Substances by the Monkey. Department of Pharmacology. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/46354/213_2004_Article_BF00405254.pdf

          Woods, J. H., & Takada, K. (2016). Obituary: Tomoji Yanagita, M.D., Ph.D. (1930–2016)—psychopharmacologist extraordinaire. Psychopharmacology, 233(23–24), 3827–3828. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4440-5