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Updated: Dec 31, 2025
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Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior
Published on: June 10, 2013
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Opioid use disorder.
John Strang1,2, Nora D Volkow3, Louisa Degenhardt4
1National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. john.strang@kcl.ac.uk.
Nature Reviews. Disease Primers
|January 11, 2020
Summary
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a complex brain disorder. Effective treatments like medication and support groups improve recovery, but relapse remains a risk, highlighting the need for continued scientific research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic, relapsing condition impacting brain reward and anti-reward circuits.
- OUD poses immense individual and public health burdens, with millions affected globally and high annual overdose deaths.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of OUD pathophysiology and treatment efficacy.
- To highlight the importance of evidence-based interventions and ongoing scientific research in combating OUD.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on OUD.
- Analysis of evidence supporting various treatment modalities for OUD.
- Discussion of challenges in OUD prevention and treatment delivery.
Main Results:
- Long-term opioid agonist therapy (methadone, buprenorphine) is highly effective and life-saving.
- Naltrexone is under investigation; community strategies and harm reduction have some support.
- Detoxification alone lacks scientific evidence for OUD treatment.
Conclusions:
- Evidence-based treatments are crucial for OUD recovery.
- Addressing comorbidities, support systems, and public perception is vital.
- Continued scientific research is essential for improving future OUD prevention and treatment.
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