A recent Device study used a swine model to demonstrate the potential of an implantable system for opioid safety (iSOS). Study: An implantable system for opioid safety . Image Credit: Microgen/Shutterstock.
com Strategies to tackle the opioid epidemic Opioid overdose continues to escalate morbidity and mortality rates throughout the world, particularly in the US. Overdose can occur in individuals using pharmaceutical and illicit opioids, which can be fatal or cause opioid use disorder (OUD). Increased fentanyl use in illicit opioids has significantly contributed to a new wave of opioid-related overdose deaths.
Mechanistically, a high agonism of the μ-opioid receptor from intentional use of illegal opioids or unintentional use leads to opioid toxidrome. This condition is associated with respiratory depression (RD) and central nervous system depression, and death may occur through respiratory arrest (RA). During opioid use, individuals introduced to ultrapotent illicit fentanyl could lose consciousness, which could prevent them from using antidotal therapy and respiratory support.
These individuals are also highly susceptible to permanent cerebral injury from unattended RA. Several harm reduction strategies have been formulated to combat this crisis, such as informed prescribing, naloxone administration, and the use of buprenorphine and methadone as medications for OUD (MOUDs). During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, implementation of these strategies significa.