Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: Exploring a Novel Treatment for Severe Opioid Use Disorder
Summary
This prospective open-label study enrolled 8 participants with severe opioid use disorder and delivered low-intensity focused ultrasound to the bilateral nucleus accumbens. Participants demonstrated immediate and sustained reductions in cue-induced opioid craving with a 91% mean reduction at 90 days. Seven participants remained abstinent at 30 days and 5 throughout 90 days.
Why it matters
The opioid crisis claims tens of thousands of lives annually with limited treatment options. This first-in-human evidence that focused ultrasound can reduce drug craving offers a potentially transformative non-invasive approach to addiction treatment that could scale broadly if confirmed in larger trials.
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