Replacing Opioids: Natural Compound Promises Pain Relief Without Addiction
Researchers at Mainz University have discovered a natural compound that could potentially serve as a long-term alternative to opioids and may help alleviate the opioid…
Opioids are a class of drugs that include both naturally occurring and synthetic substances derived from the opium poppy, as well as synthetic analogues. They are primarily used for their potent pain-relieving properties, making them essential in the management of moderate to severe pain, especially in settings such as post-operative care or chronic pain conditions. Common examples include morphine, heroin, fentanyl, and codeine. Besides pain relief, opioids can produce feelings of euphoria, which contributes to their potential for misuse and addiction. The use of opioids activates specific receptors in the brain, nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract, leading to effects such as drowsiness, constipation, and, at higher doses, respiratory depression, which can be fatal. Due to their high potential for dependence and overdose, opioids are heavily regulated in many countries, and there is a strong focus on monitoring their prescription and use to combat the opioid crisis that has particularly affected the United States.
Researchers at Mainz University have discovered a natural compound that could potentially serve as a long-term alternative to opioids and may help alleviate the opioid…
Scientists have developed new biosensors that enable real-time tracking of opioid signaling in the brain, offering profound insights into the effects of opioids and enhancing…
Xylazine, a potent animal tranquilizer, has entered the UK drug scene, causing significant health risks and a recorded death. Experts call for preventive measures and…
A UCLA Health study shows that insomnia drug prevents opioid addiction in mice at opioid doses that provide potent pain relief. Research shows suvorexant, used…
Researchers at the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction conducted tests on five terpenes, finding promising results in their pain-relief capabilities. A study from the…
Chemical biologists at Scripps Research have developed a preliminary “proof-of-concept” vaccine, potentially paving the way for the first effective treatment for xylazine overdose in humans….
NIH-supported study highlights increasingly dangerous illicit drug supply, risk of pills not coming from a pharmacy. Law enforcement seizures of illicit fentanyl increased dramatically in…
U.S. fentanyl seizures skyrocketed by over 1,700% from 2017 to 2023, with nearly half of the seizures in pill form by 2023, indicating a major…
The testing method has the capability to examine blood samples in half the time compared to alternative approaches. Researchers at the University of Waterloo have…
The first-of-its-kind electrochemical test can identify trace quantities with a 98% accuracy rate. Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have created a first-of-its-kind,…
Our understanding of the role of opioid medicines in cancer pain is challenged by a new review. Researchers studying opioid data for cancer-related pain discovered…
Letters notifying physicians of patient overdose deaths and providing a plan for the future is an effective intervention, according to a new study. Physicians who…
A study from Rutgers suggests that enhancing prison reentry programs could reduce the opioid overdose death rate in the U.S. With opioid overdose deaths surging in…
A new study led by Brown University researchers suggests a need to reevaluate opioid addiction treatment recommendations in the era of fentanyl. New research reveals…
According to the Centers for Disease Control, overdoses claim the lives of 100,000 Americans annually, with a significant majority attributed to the consumption of synthetic…
NIH-funded study suggests the need to reevaluate opioid addiction treatment recommendations in the era of fentanyl. People with opioid use disorder who were prescribed a…
The evidence calls for treatment guidelines to be changed. According to a world-first trial led by the University of Sydney, opioids are no more effective…
Scientists from the University of Montana, along with their partners, are close to initiating human trials for vaccines designed to prevent overdoses from fentanyl and…