Light Therapy as a Novel Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

This podcast episode discusses a study on the use of light therapy as a treatment for opioid use disorder. Opioid abuse and addiction are significant problems globally, causing suffering and death at alarming rates. Traditional medication management approaches do not address the underlying psychological and neurobiological factors contributing to addiction. The study explores the use of unilateral transcranial photobiomodulation, which involves applying light to one side of the head to stimulate the brain. By stimulating specific pathways in the brain, this treatment aims to promote better balance between hemispheres, reducing addictive behaviors. The study showed promising results with a significant decrease in opioid cravings in the group receiving light therapy compared to the sham treatment group. This non-invasive and time-efficient treatment has the potential to revolutionize addiction treatment.