Hooked: America's Opioid Crisis

How does one become addicted to opioids? Why are so many people dying during America’s current opioid crisis? Is the current epidemic part of a larger trend? Addiction expert Dr. Thomas Kosten explains.

Show Notes

Thomas Kosten, M.D., is a professor of psychiatry, neuroscience, pharmacology, immunology and rheumatology and director of the Division of Alcohol and Addiction Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine. His professional interests include developing medications and vaccines for addictions and pharmacology.

 

For more information on Baylor College of Medicine’s department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences: https://www.bcm.edu/departments/psychiatry-and-behavioral-sciences/programs-divisions/alcoholism-and-addictive-disorders

 

See below for some of the research studies mentioned in the episode:

• Current status and future prospects for the development of substance abuse vaccines.
• Effective management of opioid withdrawal symptoms: A gateway to opioid dependence treatment.
• Psychopharmacology: neuroimmune signaling in psychiatric disease-developing vaccines against abused drugs using toll-like receptor agonists.

What is Body of Work?

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Body of Work is an exploration of health topics in the news and important matters facing science with experts from Baylor College of Medicine. Scientists, physicians and specialists from diverse disciplines discuss the impact of hot-button issues on healthcare, research, community and education.