Addiction Recovery Weekly Roundup – April 3 Week

1.Spider Venom Key To pain Relief Without Side-Effects

Molecules in tarantula venom could be used as an alternative to opioid painkillers for people seeking chronic pain relief.

University of Queensland researchers have designed a novel tarantula venom mini-protein that can potentially relieve severe pain without addiction. (sciencedaily.com)

2.DEA Schedules Prescription CBD Drug Epidiolex

Epidiolex® (cannabidiol; GW Pharmaceuticals) oral solution is no longer a controlled substance, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The highly purified, plant-derived cannabidiol product is currently approved for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome in patients ≥2 years old. Shortly after approval, Epidiolex had been placed in Schedule V of the Controlled Substances Act. (psychiatryadvisor.com)

3. For Addicts In Recovery, Technology Preserves Bonds Despite COVID-19 Crisis

Recovering alcoholic Catherine Collins normally attends five to seven face-to-face program meetings a week.

Collins still attends meetings, but now they’re online — and there’s something important that’s missing.

“In the real world, you’re in a room full of people who have the exact same feelings. (usnews.com)

4. The old Me Would Have Been ‘woohoo It’s Party Time’ And I’d Have Been Off On A Year-Long Bender

The darkest hour is just before the dawn and this notion had never seemed truer. I had lost Alex to his business enterprise. Devastated, I consulted the psychic who continued to confirm we would be together. But when would I believe her? I was like a dog with a bone demanding proof. “Just drop it,” she said. “Just drop it.” She was seriously irritated by my endless calls and endless doubts. It didn’t help that her Pomeranian fluff ball dog was constantly barking in the background. The psychic found the dog challenging too. (independent.co.uk)

5. A Key Brain Region For Controlling Binge Drinking Has Been Found

A team of National Institutes of Health-funded researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina has found that deactivating a stress-signaling system in a brain area known for motivation and emotion-related behaviors decrease binge drinking. (medicalxpress.com)