With more than 40,000 people dying from overdoses every year, the opioid epidemic in the United States has become a full national crisis. In addition to a slew of new laws and corporate initiatives aiming to reduce opioid addiction, scientists with The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have been working to develop a vaccine that could prevent an opioid addiction from forming.
Known as the “heroin vaccine,” the new vaccination works by preventing heroin molecules from entering the brain, ending the high that users get from the drug and thereby making it more less likely that use of the drug will develop into a substance addiction. A new study published in Molecular Pharmaceutics demonstrated that the new vaccine was safely tested on animals, and scientists hope that they will be able to move into the human-testing phase soon. This vaccine could be an important turning point in the fight against the ongoing opioid crisis in America.
Addiction is a progressive disease that will continue to get worse if left untreated. If you think that you or someone you love may be developing an addiction to opioids, you should seek professional help at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Asana Recovery Center offers a comprehensive supervised detoxification and residential treatment program designed to help those suffering from any stage of substance addiction. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn more about our program and facilities today.
