Treating Opioid Addicts with Brain Implants
Recently, a team of doctors announced they were using brain implants to treat opioid addiction, which represents a novel treatment option for countless people across the country. Opioid addiction is one of the most pressing issues facing the healthcare system in the United States. Opioid and narcotic medications still represent first-line treatment options for individuals who suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain can develop following a traumatic accident such as a motor vehicle collision. On the other hand, opioid medications used to treat chronic pain can lead to devastating complications and side effects, including addiction.
Therefore, doctors have been trying to find a way to help people break their addiction to opioid and narcotic medications. A group of doctors believes they can do precisely that using brain implants. It is essential for everyone to understand how these implants work.
The Problem of Opioid Medications
Opioid medications are typically used to help people who are in pain. Some of the common examples of opioid and narcotic medications include Oxycodone, OxyContin, Percocet, Lortab, and Vicodin. These are powerful medications that target receptors in the brain, leading to pain relief. These medications are very effective when used in acute pain scenarios; however, they are not meant for people who suffer from chronic pain.
When people take opioid medications for chronic pain, they are prone to developing an addiction to these powerful drugs. When people become addicted to these medications, they often develop a tolerance to them, where they need more of a certain drug to achieve the same effect. People also develop cravings for that specific drug, similar to hunger. Finally, those who are addicted will also go far out of their way in an effort to find more opioid medications, often disrupting their personal and professional relationships along the way.
Brain Implants can Break Opioid Addiction
Addictions are difficult to break, and one of the most challenging is that of opioid medications. When people try to break an addiction to opioid medications, they often develop withdrawal symptoms such as shakes, chills, night sweats, and even seizures. Furthermore, their chronic pain can also get markedly worse. Now, doctors might be able to break this addiction using brain implants.
In order to place implants in the brain, doctors start with a series of brain imaging scans. Doctors will plan where they are going to place the implants in the brain. Then, trained surgeons will drill a small hole in the skull. Then, the brain implants will be placed in specific areas of the brain. Once in place, these implants will use certain waves that will regulate certain aspects of someone’s personality, including their self-control.
This is not the first time these electrodes are being used. They have already proven effective in controlling other conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, epilepsy, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This is the first time these electrodes will be used to treat opioid addiction.
The Future of Chronic Pain Treatment
While these implants can be used to help someone break their addiction to opioid and narcotic medications, it is still important for everyone to think about how they are going to treat their chronic pain without these drugs. There are other treatment options that do not involve taking a potentially dangerous and addictive substance. Some of the other treatment options for chronic pain include massage therapy, nerve stimulation, non-opioid medications, and acupuncture. It is important to take a well-rounded treatment approach to chronic pain.
Personal Injury Attorney in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Attorney in Sacramento. Brain implants are being used to stimulate certain neurons to help people break their opioid addiction. If someone you know is struggling with chronic pain management following an injury due to the negligence of another person or entity, you can call me by using (916) 921-6400 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
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Attribution of Image: The photograph used at the beginning of this article was located first at Pixabay.com. The picture has been shown at this location with the permission of the Creative Commons License.
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