Opioids: Pain, Reward, Play – what drives addiction?
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
Chronic pain, drugs and regulation
Pain is considered an unpleasant experience, and a protection mechanism again potential tissue damage. It is the most common reason for people to see a doctor, and is also significant in addiction, lately with OxyContin and Vicodin. Darvon, a classic pain drug was recently removed from the US market by the FDA order because of heart related side effects. We discuss the drug, its history and usage, the nociceptor pain receptors and the perception of pain, and its impact on society.