WASHINGTON — Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, said Tuesday that the agency is nearing a formal announcement of a public-private partnership aimed at funding research to help address the opioid crisis.
Despite a preliminary announcement in September, the partnership has not yet been rolled out formally. Its professed aims include developing non-addictive painkiller alternatives to opioids, new forms of medication-assisted therapy for addiction treatment, and in the long term even vaccines that would insulate individuals from the effects of heroin and fentanyl use.
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It is so important for us to use the latest science in the fight against the opioid epidemic. If scientists can develop non-addictive but effective pain treatments, it could help many people suffering from severe chronic pain issues. However, we are still not doing enough to help people addicted to opioids. There are many opioid users seeking help who have little resources for effective treatment. MAT is one form of treatment but it’s not effective for many and it’s only a temporary solution. Giving patients an opioid to treat opioid dependence is only a band-aid. In addition, patients will still need to detox from drugs like Suboxone because the withdrawal symptoms can last months. We have been using the latest medical techniques to detox patients from all opioids for 20 years. Post detox, patients can work on any underlying emotional issues which may have contributed to an opioid addiction. This gives them the opportunity for a more meaningful and productive life. Shouldn’t that be our goal?
This is no surprise since the False “opioid pill epidemic” was Manufactured For big pharma and special interests! They have already made Millions in profits off this and it’s not even true. There has been over prescribing, but that’s been fixed while our crooked government agencies push for more. No one has cared about creating new meds to replace opioid meds until now. They are being forced to. They need to do a lot more research into addiction because the street drugs are what has and is driving this addiction crisis. Even the crooked CDC has begun to admit how they skewed all their information and Lied about other Information!