Latest

OUD

This shows a brain with the nucleus accumbens highlighted, showing where the drug activates to prevent opioid relapse behaviors.

·February 13, 2026·7 min read

Glaucoma Drug Repurposed to Block Opioid Cravings and Relapse

An old drug for glaucoma might be the key to stopping opioid relapse. New research shows acetazolamide "resets" the brain's reward center to block cravings.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 26, 2023·7 min read

Glutamate Receptor Activation: A Potential Cure for Opioid Addiction?

Scientists discovered a potential new weapon in the battle against opioid use disorder (OUD), a condition that affects over two million people in the U.S. alone. The drug, ADX106772, acts on metabotropic glutamate 2 receptors in the brain, leading to a reduction in oxycodone intake and drug-seeking behavior in an animal model.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 28, 2023·5 min read

Insomnia Drug Belsomra May Help Treat Opioid Addiction

A preclinical study found that suvorexant (Belsomra), an insomnia drug, could be a potential treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) in rats. If the results are replicated in humans, the drug could offer a promising treatment for the millions of people with OUD and reduce drug intake and block relapse.

This shows a woman behind a frosty window

Featured Neuroscience Pain Psychology

·March 29, 2023·4 min read

Fibromyalgia May Worsen Opioid Addiction

Pain associated with fibromyalgia may put patients at risk of developing opioid use disorder, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 1, 2022·4 min read

Genetic Risk Factors for Opioid Use Disorder Identified

A new large-scale genome-wide study has identified 18 new genetic risk factors for opioid use disorder, bringing the number of OUD-associated genes from 1-19.

Featured Neuroscience Pain Psychology

·July 11, 2022·5 min read

Study Provides First Evidence of Link Between Opioid Use Disorder and Chronic Pain

Centralized sensation, or abnormal pain processing in the brain and spinal cord, may be an important underlying factor complicating the treatment of chronic pain in those with opioid use disorder.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 15, 2021·4 min read

Brain Gene Expression Patterns Altered by Chronic Opioid Use

Opioid use disorder affects genes associated with proinflammatory immune molecule encoding and genes associated with remodeling the extracellular matrix, suggesting the connection between neurons may be altered as a result of opioid use. Additionally, those with OUD have higher levels of microglia in the brain.

This map of the US shows the counties most at risk of opioid overdose

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 28, 2019·5 min read

Opioids study shows high-risk counties across the country, suggests local solutions

Study reveals 412 counties, mainly in the Midwest and South, are at the highest risk of opioid deaths in the US. Researchers propose new strategies for improving treatment for opioid addiction.