Opioids News and Research

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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.

Innovative approaches target PAR2 receptor to alleviate gut pain

Abdominal pain is a hallmark of many digestive disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

7 Oct 2025

UIC studies reveal rise in lidocaine poisonings despite overall drop in anesthetic deaths

Over the last decade, poisonings and deaths linked to the use of local anesthetics have decreased. Even so, poisonings from one commonly used anesthetic, lidocaine, have increased in the United States, according to two new studies from the University of Illinois Chicago.

6 Oct 2025

‘Demon Copperhead’ author lays foundation for women in Appalachia to beat addiction

On a Saturday evening in June, people of this rural region gathered at the historic Lee Theatre to celebrate the founding of Higher Ground Women's Recovery Residence.

2 Oct 2025

Khat use linked to autoimmune hepatitis in young men

Khat (Catha edulis), a plant chewed for its stimulant effects by millions in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, is increasingly recognized for its hepatotoxic potential.

30 Sep 2025

Cannabis extract eases chronic back pain and improves quality of life in major clinical trial

A phase 3 trial in Nature Medicine found that a full-spectrum Cannabis sativa extract (VER-01) significantly reduced chronic low back pain and improved sleep and function compared with placebo. The extract was safe, well-tolerated, and showed no signs of abuse or dependence, with benefits maintained over long-term treatment.

30 Sep 2025

Medicaid unwinding linked to drop in opioid use disorder treatment

The end of pandemic-era enrollment enhancements for Medicaid was associated with a rise in the number of people ending medication treatment for opioid use disorder, as well as a decrease in the number of people beginning such treatment, according to a new RAND study.

29 Sep 2025

Low-dose radiation therapy may be a suitable option for people with painful knee osteoarthritis

A single course of low-dose radiation therapy may provide a safe and effective alternative treatment option for people with painful knee osteoarthritis according to a new randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

29 Sep 2025

Infant mortality rate rises sharply when mothers experience pregnancy-associated death

A new study found that infant mortality rates in Massachusetts were 14 times higher among babies whose mother experienced a pregnancy-associated death than among babies whose mother survived pregnancy and postpartum.

26 Sep 2025

Emergency calls for opioid exposures rise among middle-school aged children

Years after the opioid epidemic began in the mid-1990s, emergency medical services are seeing increases in emergency calls for pre-teens and adolescents, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center from Sept. 26-30.

26 Sep 2025

New research reassures on opioid use during pregnancy and child development

An Indiana University study brings a comprehensive new perspective to a growing body of evidence suggesting that mild to moderate use of prescribed opioid pain medications during pregnancy does not cause an increased risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

17 Sep 2025

Prenatal exposure to opioid analgesics not linked to increased risk of autism or ADHD

Previous studies have suggested that children exposed to opioid pain medications while in the womb have higher rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but a new study finds that any increased risk could be explained by other factors.

16 Sep 2025

Limited uptake of over-the-counter naloxone despite initial surge in sales

Sales of the overdose reversal medication naloxone increased after it was made available to the public without a prescription but then dipped quickly in the period following debut of over-the-counter sales, according to a new RAND study.

16 Sep 2025

Why are more older people dying after falls?

For a while, walking the dog felt hazardous. Earl Vickers was accustomed to taking Molly, his shepherd-boxer-something-else mix, for strolls on the beach or around his neighborhood in Seaside, California. A few years ago, though, he started to experience problems staying upright.

15 Sep 2025

Many patients undergoing surgery for early-stage cancer continue or start opioid prescriptions

New research indicates that many patients who undergo surgery with the intent to cure early-stage cancer continue or start opioid prescriptions in the year following surgery.

8 Sep 2025

California CA Bridge program expands opioid treatment across most emergency departments

A comprehensive study shows that California's CA Bridge program has successfully implemented opioid use disorder treatment services across more than 80% of the state's emergency departments, reaching over 165,000 patients and providing nearly 45,000 instances of buprenorphine treatment from July 2022 through December 2023 alone.

2 Sep 2025

Opioids News and Research

Further Reading

Innovative approaches target PAR2 receptor to alleviate gut pain

UIC studies reveal rise in lidocaine poisonings despite overall drop in anesthetic deaths

‘Demon Copperhead’ author lays foundation for women in Appalachia to beat addiction

Khat use linked to autoimmune hepatitis in young men

Cannabis extract eases chronic back pain and improves quality of life in major clinical trial

Medicaid unwinding linked to drop in opioid use disorder treatment

Low-dose radiation therapy may be a suitable option for people with painful knee osteoarthritis

Infant mortality rate rises sharply when mothers experience pregnancy-associated death

Emergency calls for opioid exposures rise among middle-school aged children

New research reassures on opioid use during pregnancy and child development

Prenatal exposure to opioid analgesics not linked to increased risk of autism or ADHD

Limited uptake of over-the-counter naloxone despite initial surge in sales

Why are more older people dying after falls?

Many patients undergoing surgery for early-stage cancer continue or start opioid prescriptions

California CA Bridge program expands opioid treatment across most emergency departments

Many pharmacies still do not stock buprenorphine despite eased prescribing rules

Placebo study uncovers a precise pain map in the human brainstem

New study supports personalized restart of methadone for opioid use disorder

Polysubstance-involved opioid overdoses found to be prevalent among youth

Evidence review questions ketamine’s role in chronic pain treatment

Event guide: The Non-Opioid Pain Therapeutics Summit eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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