Heroin & opiates

Pain is becoming visible through the use of functional Magnetic Resonance Scanning Technology promising better perspectives on how to address chronic pain ... a discussion of the Addiction Equity and Affordable Care Acts, in the context of addiction treatment options. The Feds come out with another statement of intention to pursue drug use regardless of contravening state laws .... the issues of the safety of drug use in the context of public service announcement and educational efforts. And one company has a monopoly on the life-saving drug Naloxone, used for heroin (and opioids) overdoses.

President Obama's plans for mapping the brain -- much like the human genome project of the 90s. Also more on opioids addiction, in Canada and the US - how it relates to treating pain. And the logic, fairness, or lack thereof of tying drug testing to welfare assistance.

What is the relationship between pain relief, stimulation of the reward-reinforcement circuit, and play and pleasure-seeking? ... what combination leads to addiction? ... we have increasingly given opioids for chronic pain, only to see the pain not get better - but worse! Also treatment discussions - highly functional, highly paid execs who are just resigned to addiction because the tradeoffs for treatment would be so high. And more on Dr Drew Pinsky's Celebrity Rehab and latest death - the fifth - among the regulars on this reality show. PODCAST

A look back at 2012, and what 2013 might hold in drug and addiction issues, and treatment ... including the continuing stories of the new synthetics, aka bath salts, incense and potpourri -- also the continued increase in heroin use as pharmaceuticals become more costly and harder to get. And where are we in the evolution of treatment?

Discussing the implications of the new marijuana laws, and also the adoption of pharmacotherapy by the renowned Minnesota Model's founder, the Hazeldon Foundation, with guest Dr Kevin McCauley.

This year's National Survey on Drug Use shows most illicit drug has declined - except marijuana and heroin. We discuss those trends and likely reasons, which includes medical marijuana initiatives and reactions to the crackdown on prescription opioid (Oxycontin, Vicodin) abuse.