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.

Understanding opioid risks can help prevent accidental overdoses

According to numbers calculated from the CDC, approximately 80,000 people died last year from a drug overdose, which represents about 21 deaths per 100,000 residents in the U.S. alone. Overdose deaths are preventable, and in most of the cases we see, they are completely accidental.

24 Aug 2026

Survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of youth mental health and drug use in Ontario

Findings from the 2025 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) released today by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) suggest that Ontario middle and high school students have rebounded from the heightened mental health challenges seen during and immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic.

24 Aug 2026

OIST startup aims to develop effective pain relief without severe side effects

For severe and chronic pain management, opioids are often the only option. This class of drugs comes with well-documented risks, including addiction, respiratory problems and overdose.

18 Aug 2026

Trauma-informed guideline can reduce CPS reporting for infants with prenatal opioid exposure

A new study conducted at Boston Medical Center (BMC), New England's largest essential hospital, found that a trauma-informed clinical guideline can help reduce reflexive Child Protective Services (CPS) reporting without compromising child safety.

13 Aug 2026

Aging clock analysis identifies key genes in opioid dependence

A new research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging on July 27, 2026, titled "Transcriptomic aging clock analysis identifies key genes in opioid dependence."

12 Aug 2026

ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026 to highlight latest advances in anesthesia care

Ketamine given during C-sections could help ease early symptoms of postpartum depression. Common pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, may reduce the risk of delirium after surgery.

11 Aug 2026

Targeting small group of brain cells may reduce opioid addiction risk

Researchers at Duke University School of Medicine are investigating how to keep opioids' pain-relieving benefits while reducing their addictive potential. In a study published in Nature, they report a step toward that goal.

7 Aug 2026

Neuroscience-informed therapy provides massive cost-savings for opioid addiction treatment

A new economic evaluation from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has revealed that Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) - an innovative, evidence-based, neuroscience-informed therapy for opioid misuse and chronic pain - provides $12 in cost savings for every dollar spent, between two and six times more cost effective than other addiction treatments such as residential or intensive outpatient treatment.

5 Aug 2026

Review outlines effective approaches to reduce recurrent hepatic encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neurologic complication of advanced liver disease, causing impaired functioning, reduced quality of life (QOL), and increased hospitalisation and mortality.

31 Jul 2026

THC and CBD combination rapidly reduces advanced dementia agitation

A combination of CBD and THC rapidly and significantly reduces agitation in hospice-eligible people with dementia, suggest topline results from the Phase 2 LiBBY (Life's End Benefits of cannaBidiol and tetrahYdrocannabinol) clinical trial.

28 Jul 2026

Individualized treatment speeds recovery for babies with opioid withdrawal

A major new study shows that individualized treatment for babies born with opioid withdrawal can speed recovery and reduce time spent in the hospital.

24 Jul 2026

AI platform uncovers promising target for chronic pain treatmen

Despite the widespread availability of analgesics, pain management remains one of the most significant and pervasive challenges in modern medicine, with more than 20% of the global population suffering from chronic pain, especially chronic neuropathic pain characterized by central sensitization.

22 Jul 2026

Experimental neurointerventional technique shows promise for severe back pain

Researchers at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) 23rd Annual Meeting presented an experimental neurointerventional technique designed to treat severe back pain, a leading cause of disability and opioid use, by delivering medication directly through the arteries supplying the painful area.

22 Jul 2026

New peptide from cone snail venom shows promise for non-opioid pain relief

An international research team led by the Medical University of Vienna has investigated a new peptide derived from cone snail venom which significantly reduced inflammation-induced pain in an animal model.

21 Jul 2026

Study highlights communication gaps between cancer survivors and providers on cannabis

For many cancer survivors, cannabis has become part of how they manage symptoms such as pain, nausea and anxiety.

16 Jul 2026

Study shows postoperative nerve blocks do not cause hyper-sensitization

Nerve blocks – local anesthetic injections that block pain signals – are a valuable opioid-sparing technique for controlling pain after surgery.

14 Jul 2026

Review highlights traditional Chinese medicine for Chikungunya fever management

Chikungunya fever, caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), has re‑emerged as a major global health threat. The 2025 outbreak in Guangdong, China – the largest local epidemic ever recorded – marks a critical epidemiological turning point.

9 Jul 2026

Researchers identify opioids with highest risk of respiratory depression

University of Manchester researchers have identified which opioids are most likely to be associated with respiratory depression, in a major new study.

9 Jul 2026

Study reveals why “linked with” and “increases risk” may mean the same to many readers

A preregistered experiment of 1,957 adults found that people endorsed “is linked with” and “increases the risk of” statements about Tylenol use in pregnancy and autism at similar rates. The findings suggest that poll responses using increased-risk language should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that the public believes Tylenol directly causes autism.

5 Jul 2026

Opioid prescribing after pediatric surgery varies widely across hospitals

Whether children receive an opioid prescription after surgery varies substantially by procedure type and hospital, according to a new national analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS).

1 Jul 2026