Opioids: At the Intersection of Pain, Addiction and Community

The opioid class of drugs has been front and center in two public health crises facing our society and the medical professions. On the one side there are millions of Americans who are debilitated by chronic pain and the suboptimal options for managing it. On the other side, we have persistent challenges associated with various chemicals that society takes recreationally and at times compulsively. These include the opioid class of drugs such as heroin and prescription painkillers. A fascinating part of this story is the neuroscience behind the natural opioid (endorphins) and their receptors that are found in all vertebrate brains including humans. Join Dr. Edward Bilsky, a UNE professor and expert in opiates and chronic pain to learn about the neurobiology of opioids while connecting it to evolution, social behaviors and the community, ultimately offering some suggestions for addressing the crises.

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