How to Combat the Global Opioid Crisis

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• The US has experienced a significant rise in drug overdose deaths, reaching 107,622 in 2021, with opioids causing 80,816 fatalities.
• Illicit drug use is a major driver, with 59.3 million Americans estimated to have used illicit drugs in 2020, and 40.3 million having a substance use disorder (SUD).
• Current treatments for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) include opioid agonists and psychotherapy, but there's a critical need for novel, effective screening and therapeutic methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and define the novel concept of "preaddiction" as an early stage of SUD.
• To propose objective screening methods for identifying individuals at risk of developing severe SUD or addiction.
• To advocate for early detection and intervention to mitigate the escalating crisis of drug overdoses.

Main Methods:

• The study proposes screening for preaddiction using genetic testing, such as the Genetic Addiction Risk Severity (GARS) test.
• Neuropsychiatric testing, including Memory (CNSVS), Attention (TOVA), and MCMI-III, is suggested for preaddiction assessment.
• Neurological imaging techniques like qEEG/P300/EP are also proposed as diagnostic tools.

Main Results:

• The concept of preaddiction is defined as a state of mild to moderate SUD or risk for developing severe SUD/addiction.
• Objective screening through genetic and neuropsychiatric testing can identify individuals in the preaddiction phase.
• Early detection and intervention are posited to effectively combat the rise in SUD and overdose deaths.

Conclusions:

• The concept of preaddiction, coupled with standardized objective screening, offers a promising strategy for early intervention in SUD.
• Implementing preaddiction screening can potentially halt the increasing trend of drug overdoses.
• This proactive approach aims to improve public health outcomes by addressing addiction at its earliest stages.