Opportunities and challenges for nonaddictive interventions in chronic pain

The worlds of chronic pain and addiction continue to intersect too often in many ways. Chronic pain significantly impairs and disrupts the quality of life of millions of people worldwide. Opioids remain the most prescribed pharmacotherapy offered to patients to alleviate chronic pain. The extensive and often unnecessary prescription of opioids has created a surge in the prevalence of opioid use disorders and opioid overdose-related deaths. In this brief review, we aim to provide a bench-to-bedside overview of promising biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and challenges related to treating patients with chronic pain. We hope this review will inspire new opportunities and insights into the development of novel, nonaddictive treatments for chronic pain that will be available to patients in the near future.