Journal of Diabetes & Clinical Practice
Open Access

Opioid addiction is a global crisis, associated with rising morbidity and mortality. Research has advanced in understanding neurobiology and developing effective therapies. This article discusses five areas: opioid neurobiology, substitution therapies, harm reduction, psychosocial interventions, and emerging treatment models.

Key Research Areas

Neurobiology of Opioid Dependence

Opioids hijack brain reward circuits, causing tolerance and withdrawal [1].

Substitution Therapies

Methadone and buprenorphine are widely used for maintenance treatment [2].

Harm Reduction Strategies

Needle exchange and supervised injection programs reduce HIV and overdose deaths [3].

Psychosocial Interventions

Motivational interviewing and group therapy complement medical treatments [4].

Emerging Therapies

Extended-release formulations and vaccines against opioids are under development [5].

REFERENCES

1. Volkow ND, Koob GF, McLellan AT. Neurobiology of addiction: a PNAS special feature. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016; 113: 13526–13532.
2. Mattick RP, Breen C, Kimber J, Davoli M. Buprenorphine maintenance versus placebo or methadone maintenance for opioid dependence. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014; 2: CD002207.
3. Wodak A, Cooney A. Do needle syringe programs reduce HIV infection among injecting drug users? International Journal of Drug Policy 2006; 17: 436–441.
4. Carroll KM, Weiss RD. The role of behavioral interventions in buprenorphine maintenance treatment. American Journal of Psychiatry 2017; 174: 738–747.
5. Kinsey BM, et al. Vaccine protection against heroin addiction. PLoS ONE 2014; 9: e115152.