ABSTRACT
Humans use drugs for therapeutic purposes, and in this respect they have followed animals in the discovery of natural remedies and poisons. T. Cicero gives three answers to the question of whether an animal model of alcoholism is possible: no, maybe and yes, depending on how alcoholism is defined. With respect to animal models in alcoholism that are feasible, Cicero proposes criteria for several measurable aspects. R. K. Siegel compared self-administration of tobacco, alcohol, hallucinogens, stimulants, cannabis, opium and coca by 109 different animal species and 144 hunting and gathering human cultures and found the results. From these Siegel proceeded to document several examples of natural animal addictions, including alcohol, tobacco, narcotics and catnip, defining addiction in the Latin sense of fondness or passion. Addiction is sometimes defined more particularly as 'habituated to' or 'dependent upon'. This may be called 'true addiction', implying a passion taken to the point of harm.
