Death by Opioids: Are there non-addictive scientific solutions?

Abstract

In the face of the current Opioid crisis in America killing close to 800,000 people since 2004, we are proposing a novel approach to assist in at least attenuating these unwanted premature deaths. While we applaud the wonderful efforts of our governmental institutes and professional societies (NIDA, NIAAA, ASAM, ABAM ) in their extraordinary efforts in combating this continued dilemma, the current approach is failing, and other alternative approaches should at least be tested. These truths present a serious ethical dilemma to scientists, clinicians and counselors in the Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) treatment community. It is important to realize that the current DSM-5 does not actually accurately display the natural brain reward process. The human brain has not been designed to carve out specific drugs like opioids, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, benzodiazepines or cannabis and process addictions such as gambling as distinct endophenotypes. This is true in spite of natural ligands for cannabinoids, endorphins, or even benzodiazepines. The most accurate endophenotype is indeed reward dysfunction (e.g hypodopaminergic or hyperdopaminergic). With this mind, we are hereby proposing that the current Medication Assisted Treatment (i.e. ‘MAT’) expands to needed individuals as an initial “Band-Aid” to reduce harm avoidance, with the long–term goal of prophylaxis. So, to be clear, there may be other promising modalities other than MAT such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), exercise and even new medications with positive allosteric modulators of GABA-A receptors, as well as the highly researched Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARS) coupled with precision KB220Z. This will induce “dopamine homeostasis” to effectively rebalance and restore healthier brain function by promoting the cross talk between various brain regions (e.g. Nucleus accumbens, cingulate gyrus, hippocampus etc.) resulting in dopamine homeostasis. Our laudable goal is to not only save lives, but to redeem joy and improve the quality of life in the recovery community through scientifically sound natural non-addicting alternatives.

Molecular neuro-biological and systemic health benefits of achieving dopamine homeostasis in the face of a catastrophic pandemic (COVID- 19): A mechanistic exploration

“…An extensive dossier of clinical and animal research indicates that in addition to promoting manageable reduction in addiction, obsession, compulsion, impulsion and an expansive range of aberrant personality disorders, achieving dopamine homeostasis with a number of epigenetic anti-dopaminylation insults possibly including a DNAdesigned precision nutrigenomic intervention (KB220Z PBM) provides evidenced based systemic benefits including: restoring optimal aerobic metabolism in the brain by improving Blood Oxygen Level Dependent signaling and functioning; reducing anaerobic pathologies and the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species; inducing neurotransmitter interconnectivity (aka 'crosstalk'); promoting restful sleep and waking accompanied by an increase in happy dreams; improving gut-brain signaling; reducing gastrointestinal inflammation and promoting GI tract functional competence; improving appetite regulation and food intake; improving vision and circadian rhythm regulation; and, importantly, reducing the effects of stress and improving immune competence [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]30,33,34,52,53,58,60,63,64] This treatise expands our understanding of the health benefits of achieving dopamine homeostasis.…”

“…'cross talk') led Blum to develop the patented Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARS) gene test for a DNA-Designed Precision Nutrigenomic technology in the form of the next generation of the KB220Z PBM ('Precision Behavioral Management') [56][57][58][59]. In addition to the other benefits cited above regarding dopamine function, the KB220Z nutrigenomic technology has been shown in no less than 43 published clinical studies to reduce cravings and relapse [60], relieve stress, anxiety and nightmares [39,59,61]; enhance focus, concentration, cognition, and executive function; improve Blood Oxygen Level Dependent functioning [57,59,61,62], and elevate mood [63], among others. Consequently, other systemic beneficial effects cited above in this paper have not received the same notoriety owing to the societal magnitude of the opioid epidemic and the need for effective non-drug interventions.…”

“…Relevant genotype-phenotype relationships can be characterized using the Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARS ® ) [12]. Based on GARS values, dopamine homeostasis may be achieved via customization of neuro-nutrient supplementation with particular emphasis on enhancement of immunological function [13][14][15][16]. Precision Behavioral Management (PBM), and putative pro-dopamine regulation should be accompanied by interventions like mindfulness and trauma therapy.…”

A Review of DNA Risk Alleles to Determine Epigenetic Repair of mRNA Expression to Prove Therapeutic Effectiveness in Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS): Embracing “Precision Behavioral Management”

“…In an effort to shed some new light on this very important issue, the authors, have gathered information from an array of different backgrounds, pooling experience, academic knowledge, and data, that indicates a paradigm shift called "Precision Behavioral Management" is occurring and has therapeutic potential in the future. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20]…”

A Novel Precision Approach to Overcome the “Addiction Pandemic” by Incorporating Genetic Addiction Risk Severity (GARS) and Dopamine Homeostasis Restoration

“…The short-term consequences of opioid substitution therapy can be a reduction of harm. The long-term consequences can lock people into unwanted and potentially lethal addictions [ 5 ]. Attempting to curb the usage of opioids by giving potent opioids seems fundamentally incongruous.…”