Opioids
Opioids are a class of drugs that include both prescription pain relievers, such as morphine and oxycodone, and illegal drugs, like heroin. Opioid drugs function by binding to opioid receptors in the central nervous system. They block pain signals and produce feelings of euphoria. While opioids are highly effective for managing acute and chronic pain, their potent addictive properties and the risk of overdose pose significant public health challenges. Misusing opioids leads to dependence, addiction, and a host of adverse health outcomes, including death. The opioid crisis, characterized by widespread abuse and overdose deaths, has prompted efforts to improve prescribing practices, enhance access to addiction treatment services, and increase public awareness about the risks associated with opioid use.
Opioids
Latest Posts
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Digital pill biosensors for monitoring opioid medication use
In a research paper published in the Anesthesia & Analgesia, Brigham and women’s hospital investigators report on the results from a pilot study of 15 individuals who received a prescription to take oxycodone digital pills as needed…
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Research uncovers link between long-term opioid use and preexisting psychiatric and behavioral disease
A wide range of pre-existing psychiatric and behavioral conditions and the use of psychoactive drugs could be important risk factors leading to long-term use of opioid pain medications, reports a study in Journal Pain, the official publication…
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Researchers find that acupuncture produces natural opioid enkephalin which reduce high blood pressure in mice
Researchers from the UCI Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine have demonstrated that regular electro-acupuncture treatments can lower hypertension by triggering the release of opioids in the brainstem, which regulates blood pressure. Their findings, published in Nature’s…
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