Opioids: From Receptors to Epidemics

Catalog description

This survey course reviews the neuropharmacology of opioids including central and peripheral sites of opioid actions. Opioid receptor pharmacology as well as cellular and molecular neuroadaptations to opioids are discussed in relation to addiction, physical dependence, tolerance, hyperalgesia and withdrawal. Genetic and pharmacogenomic effects on variation of opioid response are also presented. Opioid addiction and the actions of opioids on pain systems are reviewed with an emphasis on their pre-clinical and clinical expression. The effects of regulatory, pharmaceutical and criminal justice justice forces on opioid prescription in the US are considered vis-a-vis pain management and opioid addiction. Finally, the causes and consequences of the of the current "opioid epidemic" are reviewed, as well as federal, healthcare and community efforts to address it. Prerequisite: Permission of instructors. For BSNs: NURS 1650