Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Wednesday 28 February 2018
How your brain is wired to just say ‘yes’ to opioids

Paul R. Sanberg, University nies to develop nonaddic-
of South Florida tive, non-opioid pain killers
Samantha Portis, University that might finally end our
of South Florida somewhat tortured depen-
(THE CONVERSATION) The dence on this formidable
mid-1980s was the era of drug.
cocaine and marijuana, Brain scientists have known
when “Just Say No” was for decades that opioids
the centerpiece of the war are complex and difficult
on drugs and the govern- substances to manage
ment’s efforts to stem drug when it comes to addic-
use and addiction. Since tion. The National Institute
then, prescription opioids on Drug Abuse reports that
have become the nation’s more than 20 percent of
drug scourge. The idea that the patients prescribed opi-
mere willpower can fight oids for chronic pain misuse
this public health emergen- them, and between 8 and
cy is not only outdated, it’s 12 percent of those who
scientifically misguided. use prescription opioids de-
Medical history tells us that velop a use disorder.
almost as long as there Given how addictive these
have been opioids – their drugs are, doctors should
use dates back to the third have foreseen the loom-
century – there have been ing danger of prescription
opioid addicts. opioids long before their
Thirty years ago, I was a use was liberalized for non- A Philadelphia man, who struggles with opioid addiction, in 2017.
research scientist focused cancer related pain in the Associated Press
on addiction when I was 1990s. Opioid abuse has
asked to co-author a vol- instead ballooned over the sults in the release of the a substance. A few brain tific response to the opioid
ume on prescription nar- last decade. In 2014, feder- neurotransmitter chemi- areas are involved in the use epidemic.
cotics for the “Encyclope- al officials estimated near- cal dopamine. Over time, continued use of opioids The NIH is taking important
dia of Psychoactive Drugs.” ly 2 million people in the those receptors become after the pleasure factor steps in building a public-
I wrote the same assess- United States suffer from less sensitive, and more of has subsided and the per- private partnership that will
ment of opioid abuse then substance use disorders re- the drug is needed to stim- son is still using the drug in seek scientific solutions to
that I would write today: lated to prescription opioid ulate the reward center. order to avoid withdrawal. the opioid crisis, including
For many people, opioids pain medicines. Each day, A brain that has become These areas include the the development of non-
are substances their brains more than 1,000 people dependent on opioids can paraventricular nucleus of opioid painkillers. Collins
are wired to crave in ways are treated in emergency produce a strong desire to the thalamus, bed nucleus has committed his agen-
that make personal resolve rooms for misusing prescrip- avoid the very real physi- of the stria terminalis, the cy’s resources in this quest,
nearly impossible. tion opioids, the CDC re- cal pain of withdrawal. amygdala and other areas. including implementing
ports. When opioids are absent in A user’s brain can literally the Fast Track and Break-
Your brain on opioids The reason? Many people’s the body after the person create a strong aversion through Therapy designa-
brains are wired to want has become dependent, to opioid withdrawal and tions that exist to facilitate
Our understanding of the this drug. another neurotransmitter compel them to keep using development and expe-
human brain’s mecha- called noradrenaline is pro- even if they know they are dite review of products that
nisms make a compelling How opioids affect the duced in excess. Excessive nearing an overdose. address an unmet medical
argument for a national brain production of NA results in need. The agency is call-
research effort to develop withdrawal symptoms that The research community ing for more emphasis on
non-opioid painkillers and The simplified explanation include shaking, tremors, responds non-drug alternatives for
new medical devices to of this complex brain sci- anxiety, muscle cramps, pain, such as medical de-
treat chronic pain, which ence is this: When opioids and other uncomfortable Brain science is only one vices that can deliver more
remains the nation’s num- enter the brain, they bind to and painful physiological part of an addiction prob- localized analgesia. Expe-
ber one cause of disability. receptors known as μ (mu) responses. Users self-cor- lem, but, I believe an im- diency and proper fund-
The good, if somewhat little opioid receptors on brain rect this brain chemistry by portant one deserving of ing of this effort is critical to
noticed, news is that there cells, or neurons. These re- continuing to take the drug more consideration than get effective alternatives
is meaningful action on this ceptors stimulate the “re- to stimulate dopamine pro- we’ve shown in past drug to those who need it most
front led by the National In- ward center” of the brain. duction in their brain. abuse crises. NIH Director – the people fully intending
stitutes of Health, which is This occurs in a part of the Our learning and memory Francis S. Collins has recog- to “Just Say No” but whose
working in conjunction with brain known as the ventral processes also become nized this in his leadership brains will fight them every
pharmaceutical compa- tegmental area, which re- engaged in addiction to of the medical and scien- step of the way.q