There is a vaccine that blocks rats from getting high on Fentanyl. The research could lead to a new treatment for people trying to kick an opiate addiction.
Fentanyl can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It contributes to both fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States, with an estimated 150 Americans dying every day from synthetic opioids.
Around 80 percent of those who seek treatment for opiate addiction will return to drug use within a month of being released from a program.
The vaccine developed by scientists at the University of Houston could be a lifesaver for people suffering from the opiate epidemic.
Colin Haile, a researcher at UH and lead author of a new study published in the journal pharmaceutics, said that the findings could have a significant impact on a very serious problem.
The rats didn't experience any side effects.
It was not possible for the anti-fentanyl antibodies to cross-react with other drugs, such as morphine.
There are clinical trials in humans. The vaccine's clinical grade version is expected to be ready within months.
It's possible that blocking the brain from feeling the effects of Fentanyl could have other consequences.
Fentanyl is still a popular drug in hospitals. Fentanyl is still injected by anesthesiologists to relieve pain and allow better anesthesia.
Thanks to its short-lived effects, it allows for quicker recovery during minor surgical procedures. Similar drugs can have long lasting effects.
The vaccine could have far-reaching consequences for people who are struggling with addiction.
It is not easy to make treatment plans accessible to all because of the politicized nature of drug enforcement and the fact that Fentanyl is still a widely used and highly effective drug.
Fentanyl vaccine is a potential game-changer for the opiate epidemic.
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