The opioid crisis constitutes a public health challenge at the intersection of two interrelated medical problems - opioid addiction and chronic pain. Overlap of the reward and pain circuits in the brain underlies the frequent comorbidity of chronic pain and opioid addiction, whereas inadequate support, treatment and health-care reimbursement for both of these conditions are major contributors underlying the magnitude of the problem. Neurologists are uniquely positioned to help address the opioid crisis, not only through their involvement in the management of chronic pain conditions but also because they can screen for and manage opioid use disorders. The new NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative will support research into pain and opioid use disorders to help address the opioid crisis. Neurologists' involvement in basic, translational and clinical research is needed for the development of new pain therapeutics and biomarkers and interventions to prevent chronic pain and to prevent and treat opioid addiction.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41582-019-0146-8DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

chronic pain
16
opioid crisis
12
opioid addiction
12
opioid
9
pain opioid
8
help address
8
address opioid
8
opioid disorders
8
pain
7
role neurologists
4

Similar Publications

Background: Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a multifactorial, chronic syndrome involving urinary frequency, urgency, and bladder discomfort. These IC/BPS symptoms can significantly impact individuals' quality of life, affecting their mental, physical, sexual, and financial well-being. Individuals sometimes rely on peer-to-peer support to understand the disease and find methods of alleviating symptoms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The association of medical cannabis use with quality of life in Illinois' opioid alternative pilot program.

J Epidemiol Popul Health

January 2025

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States; Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Hines VA Hospital, Hines, IL, United States.

Background: In Illinois, the Opioid Alternative Pilot Program (OAPP) was launched to expand access to medical cannabis to use as a direct substitute for opioids. Although therapeutic benefits have been reported in reducing opioid use, there is an absence of literature that examines how medical cannabis use impacts an individual's quality of life (QoL). This study examines the association of medical cannabis use with QoL among the first enrollees in OAPP.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Study progress of etiologic mechanisms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Int Immunopharmacol

January 2025

The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Department of Urology, The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China. Electronic address:

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) represents a prevalent condition within the male genitourinary system. CP/CPPS occurs in men of varying ages, with an increasing recurrence rate associated with advancing age. The pathogenesis of CP/CPPS remains unclear, and clinical treatment typically focuses on symptom management with limited efficacy, resulting in significant economic and psychological burdens for patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an interventional procedure that has been used to treat chronic back pain for over 50 years; this unique case report demonstrates the effectiveness of pulsed radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) on the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in the treatment of chronic radicular pain (Russo et al., 2021, J Pain Res, 14, 3897). The RFA provides pain relief by using thermal energy to disrupt peripheral nerves carrying nociceptive signals back to the central nervous system (Abd-Elsayed et al.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Accumulation of advanced oxidative protein products exacerbate satellite glial cells activation and neuropathic pain.

Mol Med

January 2025

Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North Guangzhou Ave, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China.

Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a debilitating condition caused by lesion or dysfunction in the somatosensory nervous system. Accumulation of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) is implicated in mechanical hyperalgesia. However, the effects of AOPPs on NP remain unclear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!