Neuroinflammation May Indeed Be a Major Player in Opioid Use Disorder in Humans

Opioid use disorder (OUD) has become one of the most significant public health problems of this century. This is not hyperbolic, but rather reflects the conditions on the ground, with some estimates of people living with OUD exceeding 26 million globally in 2016 (1). The etiology of this epidemic is complex and lies at the intersection of medical practice, social and economic factors, governmental policy, and the pressures of modern society (2). As such, treatment of OUD is similarly complex, with most researchers agreeing that a combination of pharmacological intervention, community-based harm reduction programs, and medically managed withdrawal is the most  promising way to address this human tragedy (2).
Source: Biological Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Commentary Source Type: research