This podcast explores a study on using light therapy as a non-opioid treatment for opioid use disorder. It discusses the urgent need for alternative solutions to addiction and the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic. The study reveals the efficacy of transcranial photobiomodulation in reducing cravings and opioid use. The role of medication-based intervention and selectively stimulating one hemisphere of the brain are key aspects. The study shows a 71% improvement in cravings for the light therapy group compared to a sham treatment group. The potential of combining light therapy with buprenorphine treatment is also discussed.
Unilateral transcranial photobiomodulation reduces opioid cravings and use, even when patients are already receiving medication-based interventions.
Transcranial photobiomodulation activates mitochondria, increases blood flow, inhibits negative emotions, and shows promise as a treatment for opioid addiction.
Deep dives
The Opioid Crisis: Current Situation and Urgent Need for Solutions
The opioid epidemic continues to cause significant suffering, death, and societal damage. Current treatments, such as medication management, are unable to address the underlying factors contributing to addiction. The urgent need for additional safe and effective treatments is evident, especially given the high rates of relapse and dropout associated with existing interventions.
Unilateral Transcranial Photobiomodulation: A Promising Treatment
A recent study explored the use of unilateral transcranial photobiomodulation as a novel treatment for opioid use disorder. The treatment involved stimulating the hemisphere of the brain that is less associated with addiction using light therapy. The study showed that photobiomodulation was superior to a sham treatment in reducing opioid cravings and use, even when patients were already receiving medication-based interventions. No adverse effects were reported in the treatment groups.
Transcranial Photobiomodulation: Mechanisms and Effective Application
Transcranial photobiomodulation works by activating mitochondria and increasing blood flow in the brain. It also helps to integrate and segregate brain networks and inhibit the default mode, which is associated with negative emotions and anxiety. The study used an 810-nanometer LED to deliver light therapy, with a dosage tailored to penetrate the skull and reach the brain effectively. The research highlighted the importance of higher light dosages when targeting deep tissues, such as the brain. The study's findings provide promising evidence that light therapy, when used strategically, can significantly reduce opioid cravings and contribute to the treatment of addiction.
This episode directly follows-up episode 31 on opioid addiction and light therapy. The study being reviewed today was done by the same group of researchers and was published in August of 2021. Medication management of opioid use disorders tends to have problems like relapse and dropout, but photobiomodulation used on only one hemisphere of the brain, with or without buprenorphine, was found to be superior to sham in reducing opioid cravings. Listen to find out how they conducted this study and the factors they took into account.