Opioids News and Research

RSS

An opioid is a chemical that works by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. The receptors in these two organ systems mediate both the beneficial effects and the side effects of opioids.

Caution urged in reducing opioids for pain

After years and decades in which healthcare providers were freely prescribing opiates for all sorts of painful conditions, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published guidelines to help bring down opioid prescription rates and with them, addiction and overdose-related death rates. Though these were not binding, they urged physicians to be cautious in dealing with opioids when prescribing for pain.

13 Oct 2019

Brain protein plays a prominent role in the maintenance of chronic pain

A protein called RGS4 (Regulator of G protein signaling 4) plays a prominent role in the maintenance of long-term pain states and may serve as a promising new target for the treatment of chronic pain conditions, according to research conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published in print October 16, in The Journal of Neuroscience.

11 Oct 2019

Using mindfulness approach to tackle opioid crisis

Boston Medical Center was awarded a multi-million dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health to improve function for chronic lower back pain (cLBP) using a non-pharmacologic approach.

11 Oct 2019

Pittcon 2020 Plenary Lecture announced

Pittcon is pleased to announce Dr. Ziva Cooper as the 2020 Plenary Lecturer. Dr. Cooper’s lecture is entitled Cannabis Constituents as Novel Strategies to Tackle the Opioid Epidemic.

From Pittcon 11 Oct 2019

‘Sticky’ gene may boost the nerve calming effects of Valium

Between 1999 and 2017, the United States experienced a 10-fold increase in the number of people who died from overdoses of Valium and other benzodiazepines.

10 Oct 2019

Study highlights role of drugs in alcohol poisoning and blackout events

Only one in five non-fatal alcohol overdoses results from use of alcohol alone, according to a study of patients in a large addiction treatment facility, with most alcohol overdoses involving concomitant use of other drugs.

9 Oct 2019

New analysis examines the darknet's opioid purchases

U.S. overdose deaths attributed to synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, have increased from under 3,000 in 2013 to nearly 20,000 in 2016, making up half of all opioid-related overdose deaths.

9 Oct 2019

New study examines care for patients with knee osteoarthritis in the U.S.

A new study published in Arthritis Care & Research provides an overview of U.S. physicians' recommendations for physical therapy, lifestyle counseling, pain medications for treating knee osteoarthritis.

9 Oct 2019

McLean Hospital receives grant through NIH HEAL Initiative to address national opioid crisis

As part of its efforts to reverse the opioid crisis that continues to grip the nation, the National Institutes of Health has named McLean Hospital as a recipient of a grant through the Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative (NIH HEAL Initiative).

9 Oct 2019

Novel treatment strategies could help prevent abuse of opioids, other substances

Concerns over the opioid epidemic have sparked a strong scientific interest in why some people become addicted while others don't. Now, researchers are proposing novel treatment strategies that could help prevent abuse of opioids and other substances.

8 Oct 2019

New study to explore how medical cannabis affects people with chronic pain

A team of researchers at the University of Georgia will study how legalized medical cannabis affects people living with chronic pain.

8 Oct 2019

Innovative study aims to improve care for patients using opioids for long-term pain

Researchers at Keele University have launched an innovative study to improve care for patients who manage long-term pain using opioids.

8 Oct 2019

Endometriosis: Thousands of women suffer from debilitating pain

Endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 10 women in their reproductive years. The condition, described as debilitating, painful, and emotionally-draining, has taken a toll on the lives of many women across the globe. But the condition isn’t getting the needed adequate attention, hinting the need for more research on ways to battle it.

8 Oct 2019

Penn Medicine awarded $22 million to apply scientific solutions to reverse opioid crisis

The nation has been grappling with the opioid epidemic for years - and the city of Philadelphia has been hit hard by the crisis. While data is showing slight declines in overdose deaths, the opioid crisis remains a public health emergency.

4 Oct 2019

UIC receives $2.8 million NIH funding to tackle opioid use among people with kidney disease

The University of Illinois at Chicago has received $2.8 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health to investigate non-opioid pain management strategies for people with kidney disease, which affects about 15% of adults in the U.S.

3 Oct 2019

Prescription-only changes reduce codeine misuse in Australia

The move to prescription-only codeine in Australia has seen a 50 percent reduction in the monthly rate of codeine-related poisoning calls and halved codeine sales, finds new research led by the University of Sydney.

3 Oct 2019

UC Davis research team receives NIH grant to develop novel drugs for treating pain

A UC Davis research team, led by Vladimir Yarov-Yarovoy and Heike Wulff, will receive a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a novel class of peptides that are better at treating pain and don't have the side effects of opioids.

1 Oct 2019