E55: The Opioid Epidemic: Origins, Impacts, and Alternative Pain Treatment Options

Are you ready to discover the future of pain treatment? Scientists may have just made a breakthrough that could revolutionize pain treatment and stop the opioid epidemic in its tracks. The future of pain relief and stopping this tragic epidemic has never looked brighter.

In this episode, Eric Scovill sits down with Tom Jenkins and Greg Sturmer of Elysium Therapeutics to discuss solutions to the opioid crisis. If successful in clinical trials, this discovery may finally offer a real solution to end the tragic opioid epidemic for good. Eliminating the risks of misuse – this could be a game-changer! 

Here are some topics from today’s discussion:

• The progression to addiction
• The shift from acute to chronic use of opioids
• The pendulum swing
• How opioid addiction can affect anyone
• Fentanyl production and its devastating effects

 

Episode Highlights:

[11:18] The Progression to Addiction

Tom discusses how opioid addiction often starts with prescription drugs and progresses from there. He explains that people don't just suddenly decide to use heroin - it begins with being prescribed opioids for legitimate pain and having leftover pills. Taking extra doses for their euphoric effects can lead to misuse and abuse as people seek out more pills from friends and family. This establishes a cycle of reinforcement that drives further-seeking behaviors and sets people up for addiction.

[20:30] The Shift from Acute to Chronic Opioid Use

The opioid crisis began in the 1990s when two major changes occurred. First, pain became the fifth vital sign in healthcare, increasing focus on pain management. Around the same time, Purdue Pharma released OxyContin, making opioids more suitable for long-term chronic pain through a controlled-release formulation. This shifted prescribing from predominantly acute, short-term pain to chronic pain and increased opioid prescriptions dramatically. While aiming to improve patient care, this unintendedly fueled the rise in prescription opioid abuse and overdoses.

[23:14] The Swing Back Towards Control

In 2011-2012, there was a "pendulum swing" in response to the worsening opioid crisis. Where focus had moved to chronic pain management and opioid exposure, the pendulum swung back towards controlling opioid use and abuse. Prescriptions dropped 44% as doctors became more hesitant. However, fatal overdoses remained the same because the pharmaceutical industry had not developed safer alternatives and formulations. 

[44:42] Fentanyl Production and Its Devastating Effects

The opioid crisis has impacted virtually everyone. Greg notes that 90% of overdoses are from swallowing pills, not injection or insufflation as many assume. This is due to the proliferation of illicit fentanyl pills on the market of varying and often lethal potency. People unknowingly take more to feel the effects, not realizing the risks. As such, the crisis is difficult to address because opioid abuse cannot be easily identified - it affects everyday people across all demographics rather than just the stereotypical addict. 

Resources Mentioned:

Elysium Therapeutics