Unilateral Transcranial Photobiomodulation Reduces Opioid Cravings and Use

Unilateral transcranial photobiomodulation, a treatment involving shining light onto the brain, has been found to dramatically reduce opioid cravings and use. This treatment has been shown to be safe, with no reported side effects, and is painless and pleasant for patients. In studies involving both a sham treatment and an active treatment, it was found that the active treatment group had a 70% decrease in cravings compared to a 30% decrease in the sham group. The positive effects of the treatment lasted for three weeks after the treatment, with significant improvement in depressive symptoms as well. The treatment also showed promise in reducing drug use, and it did not interfere with medications such as buprenorphine. More research and FDA approval are still needed, but this treatment holds tremendous potential for addressing the opioid crisis.