Evaluating the Abuse Potential of Lenabasum, a Selective Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Agonist.

Endocannabinoids, which are present throughout the central nervous system (CNS), can activate cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2). CB1 and CB2 agonists exhibit broad anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting their potential to treat inflammatory diseases. However, careful evaluation of abuse potential is necessary.

Opioid vaccine clinical testing: lessons learned.

Purpose Of Review: Opioid use disorder (OUD) presents a serious public health concern, with dramatic increases in opioid-overdose mortality in recent years and a small percentage of those with OUD accessing or remaining engaged with available treatments. Efforts are currently underway to identify vaccines targeting opioids, which could provide a novel and complimentary approach. The current review provides an overview of existing literature, practical considerations for designing and conducting clinical trials with vaccines for opioids, and future directions.

The influence of drug class on reward in substance use disorders.

In the United States, the societal costs associated with drug use surpass $500 billion annually. The rewarding and reinforcing properties that drive the use of these addictive substances are typically examined concerning the neurobiological effects responsible for their abuse potential. In this review, terms such as "abuse potential," "drug," and "addictive properties" are used due to their relevance to the methodological, theoretical, and conceptual framework for understanding the phenomenon of drug-taking behavior and the associated body of preclinical and clinical literature.

Development and Validation of a Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale for Individuals who use Opioids: Preliminary Findings and Future Directions.

Background: Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS) are individually implemented harm reduction (HR) strategies to reduce the frequency or severity of risks associated with drug use. Existing scales measuring PBS for alcohol and cannabis suggest PBS are associated with reductions in associated problems. Despite many HR strategies related to opioid use, no PBS scale has been developed in the context of opioid use.