Why the human brain loves opioids
Pain and pleasure rank among nature's strongest motivators, but when mixed, the two can become irresistible. Here is the science behind how opioids brew a perfect addiction in the brain....
==========
For centuries, societies have coveted opioids for the euphoria and the pain relief they provide. In the 1800s, when chemists extracted morphine from opium poppies, it became the go-to treatment for the American Civil War. After morphine caused widespread addiction, drug companies invented what they thought was a “non-addictive” substitute: a cough syrup called heroin. That turned out poorly for the 20th century. Today, prescription opioids, like fentanyl and oxycodone, crowd America's medicine cabinets and its streets. Opioid overdoses now kill more Americans every year than car accidents But to understand how we arrived here, you’ll need to venture deep into the mind. Here’s why our brains love opioids. When opioids enter the brain, they la...
==========
For centuries, societies have coveted opioids for the euphoria and the pain relief they provide. In the 1800s, when chemists extracted morphine from opium poppies, it became the go-to treatment for the American Civil War. After morphine caused widespread addiction, drug companies invented what they thought was a “non-addictive” substitute: a cough syrup called heroin. That turned out poorly for the 20th century. Today, prescription opioids, like fentanyl and oxycodone, crowd America's medicine cabinets and its streets. Opioid overdoses now kill more Americans every year than car accidents But to understand how we arrived here, you’ll need to venture deep into the mind. Here’s why our brains love opioids. When opioids enter the brain, they la...
