Opioid & Pain
Combatting the Opioid Epidemic

Working across disciplines to minimize pain and reduce the impact of addictive opioid drugs

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One of the basic tenets of medicine is the lessening of pain, and unfortunately for many, has led to an epidemic in the use of powerful and addicting analgesics known as opioids.

Michigan Medicine researchers are leading the field in researching evidence-based ways to more responsibly prescribe these drugs and to help patients living with opioid use disorders. Our scientists are also actively exploring effective alternative pain relievers that can help people live lives with less suffering.

Michigan Medicine is home to several strategic domains dedicated to researching opioids and pain:

Recent Podcast Episodes in Opioid Use & Pain Management
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Health Lab Podcast
The “chemical nudges” approach to chronic pain
In this episode, you will get to hear Dr. Boehnke, in his own words, talk about his experiences, and the “chemical nudges” approach to chronic pain; reframing the role of medications in chronic pain management, and why solely relying on pain relievers “disempowers patients, clinicians and the drugs themselves.”
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Health Lab Podcast
Presenting: The Fundamentals
Today on Health Lab, we are sharing an episode of The Fundamentals, another podcast from the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network that just launched its second season earlier this month. On this episode of The Fundamentals: "Cannabis and psychedelics: stigmatized substances or powerful therapeutics?" Dr. Kevin Boehnke talks about cannabis, psychedelics, and the increasing body of evidence for their legitimization as therapeutics.
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The Fundamentals
Addiction is a lifelong disease and not a moral failing
On today’s The Fundamentals is Dr. Brummett, Professor at the University of Michigan where he serves as the Senior Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Anesthesiology. He has more than 280 publications, including articles in top journals such as JAMA, JAMA Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Annals of Surgery. He is the Co-Director of the Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network or OPEN at the University of Michigan, which aims to apply a preventative approach to the opioid epidemic in the US through appropriate prescribing after surgery, dentistry and emergency medicine. Moreover, he is the Co-Director of the cross-campus Opioid Research Institute, which was launched in the spring of 2023. He leads multiple NIH grants studying these concepts and receives funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHSA, CDC, and multiple foundations. You can learn more about Dr. Brummett here, and you can follow Dr. Brummett @drchadb and the department of anesthesiology @UMichAnesthesia on X.
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Health Lab
Reframing the role of medications in chronic pain management
An expert on pain management discusses why relying on medications to ease discomfort can easily backfire, and how people can avoid complete reliance on these types of drugs.
Health Lab
Cannabis & older adults: Poll looks at use, beliefs and risk
Many older Americans use cannabis products containing THC for a range of reasons, but a sizable percentage may be taking risks or facing potential addiction.
A doctor examines a patient's back. His hand's are on the patient's lower back and the patient is reaching around pointing to a spot on his back.
Medicine at Michigan
Helping patients with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and long COVID
The director of U-M's Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center discusses misconceptions and treatments of fibromyalgia and chronic pain and how physicians can best help patients living with these conditions.
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Opioid & Pain Researchers
Meet the Experts

Michigan Medicine researchers are tackling the complexities of opioid use and pain management to address one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time.

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Latest Publications
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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Signal Variability Is Associated With Neuromodulation in Fibromyalgia
Lim, M, Kim, DJ, Nascimento, TD, Ichesco, E, Kaplan, C, Harris, RE, DaSilva, AF, Neuromodulation, 2023 Jul; DOI:10.1111/ner.13512
PMID: 34309138
Knowledge, Perceptions, and Use of Psychedelics among Individuals with Fibromyalgia
Glynos, NG, Pierce, J, Davis, AK, McAfee, J, Boehnke, KF, J Psychoactive Drugs, 2023 Jan; DOI:10.1080/02791072.2021.2022817
PMID: 35001856
Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation Improved the Quality of Life in Patients With Diarrhea-Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Hu, P, Sun, K, Li, H, Qi, X, Gong, J, Zhang, Y, Xu, L, Lin, M, Fan, Y, Chen, JDZ, Neuromodulation, 2022 Dec; DOI:10.1016/j.neurom.2021.10.009
PMID: 35088760
Cortical mechanisms of visual hypersensitivity in women at risk for chronic pelvic pain.
Kmiecik, MJ, Tu, FF, Silton, RL, Dillane, KE, Roth, GE, Harte, SE, Hellman, KM, Pain, 2022 Jun; DOI:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002469
PMID: 34510138
Impacts of an Opioid Safety Initiative on US Veterans Undergoing Cancer Treatment
Vitzthum, LK, Nalawade, V, Riviere, P, Marar, M, Furnish, T, Lin, LA, Thompson, R, Murphy, JD, J Natl Cancer Inst, 2022 May; DOI:10.1093/jnci/djac017
PMID: 35078240
Patient Perspectives on Improving Patient-Provider Relationships and Provider Communication During Opioid Tapering
Kosakowski, S, Benintendi, A, Lagisetty, P, Larochelle, MR, Bohnert, ASB, Bazzi, AR, J Gen Intern Med, 2022 May; DOI:10.1007/s11606-021-07210-9
PMID: 34993861
A phase 1 study to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and anti-tumor activity of the androgen receptor n-terminal domain inhibitor epi-506 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
Maurice-Dror, C, Le Moigne, R, Vaishampayan, U, Montgomery, RB, Gordon, MS, Hong, NH, DiMascio, L, Perabo, F, Chi, KN, Invest New Drugs, 2022 Apr; DOI:10.1007/s10637-021-01202-6
PMID: 34843005
Pain Management and Risks Associated With Substance Use: Practice Recommendations
Turner, HN, Oliver, J, Compton, P, Matteliano, D, Sowicz, TJ, Strobbe, S, St Marie, B, Wilson, M, Pain Manag Nurs, 2022 Apr; DOI:10.1016/j.pmn.2021.11.002
PMID: 34965906