As noted in the previous section, disinhibition increases when substance users are exposed to substance-related cues. It is well-established that exposure to substance-related cues elicits a range of responses include physiological changes (such as increased heart rate and skin conductance), increased subjective craving, and increased drug self-administration (62). Some theorists have suggested that fluctuations in disinhibition may partially mediate the effects of drug cue exposure on craving, drug self-administration, and relapse in those attempting abstinence [e.g., (2)].
