Increasing the levels of chemicals naturally produced in the body called endocannabinoids may thwart the highly addictive nature of opioids such as morphine and oxycodone while maintaining the drugs' ability to relieve pain, according to a new study.
Increasing the levels of chemicals naturally produced in the body called endocannabinoids may thwart the highly addictive nature of opioids such as morphine and oxycodone while maintaining the drugs' ability to relieve pain, according to a new study. Endocannabinoids bind to cannabinoid receptors throughout the body that regulate activities, such as learning and memory, emotions, sleep, immune response and appetite.
In 2023, opioid abuse or overuse was responsible for more than 80,000 deaths, fueling a national crisis, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Illegally obtained drugs were ultimately responsible for many deaths, but not all of them."When someone has surgery and is taking opioids for pain management, there's always a risk of developing a dependence on these drugs," said senior author Dr.
Surprisingly, the findings also upend the central dogma in the opioid field that combining endocannabinoids and opioids should exacerbate addictive behaviors in a synergistic way."By both of us not being members of the opioid field, we came up with the counterintuitive idea that one system might actually block the other system from having effects on reward," said Dr.
Additional experiments showed that 2-AG exerts its effect through the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in the ventral tegmental area, a group of neurons in the midbrain that plays a key role in reward and motivation. Elevating 2-AG levels also reduced dopamine signaling, a key element of the reward system.
Controlled Substances Medical Topics Restless Leg Syndrome Opium Illegal Drugs Addiction Neuroscience
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Telehealth Shows Promise in Reducing Suicide AttemptsBrief cognitive behavioral therapy delivered via video telehealth reduced suicide attempts among adults with recent suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors.
Read more »
How to navigate the holidays while reducing dietary fat intakeWhile the average person only gains a few pounds between Thanksgiving and the new year, many people find it challenging to reverse this unintentional weight gain.
Read more »
Texas’ top elected officials appear open to reducing border security spendingWith Donald Trump returning to the White House, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have both recently signaled new openness to winding down the state’ border security operation.
Read more »
Scientific breakthrough could make X-ray scans safer by reducing radiationA new X-ray method could drastically reduce radiation exposure, making X-ray imaging much safer for humans.
Read more »
Reducing Manx Care overspend 'challenging', chief minister saysAlfred Cannan says reducing Manx Care's overspend for the current financial year will be difficult.
Read more »
Algorithms now dictate content, reducing user choice and authentic connection.Social media has evolved, with algorithms now controlling what we see, when we see it, and for how long. Dive in to understand how this shift impacts us.
Read more »