Adolescent cannabinoid vapour exposure sex-dependently alters the relationship between vulnerability traits and ethanol self-administration and modifies naltrexone actions on ethanol intake in rats.
Neuropharmacology May 1, 2026 Jairo S Acosta-Vargas, Natalia De Las Heras-Martínez, Alberto Marcos et al.
Adolescent rats exposed to vaporized THC, alone or with CBD, showed no significant changes in behavioral traits or alcohol self-administration compared to controls. However, females exhibited a more vulnerable pattern of alcohol consumption and seeking. In THC-exposed males, a negative correlation appeared between sucrose preference and compulsive alcohol seeking; in females, THC disrupted the link between novelty preference and alcohol intake and was associated with a negative correlation between goal-tracking and compulsive seeking. Naltrexone reduced alcohol intake most effectively in THC-exposed rats versus those given a high-CBD/low-THC mixture. Adolescent cannabinoid exposure has limited effects on overall alcohol risk but may alter psychological underpinnings of alcohol-related behaviors and increase naltrexone potency, with sex differences highlighting the need for personalized interventions.