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Brain Surgery Offers Hope for Opioid Addiction
29 Sep
Summary
- Experimental brain surgery aims to control opioid addiction cravings.
- Deep brain stimulation is being tested in a new clinical trial.
- The treatment offers hope to patients who have failed other methods.
A 49-year-old woman is seeking a new chance at life through an experimental treatment in Pittsburgh. Jennifer King traveled for an appointment with neurosurgeon Dr. Nestor Tomycz at Allegheny General Hospital to adjust an electrode in her brain, hoping to control her opioid addiction cravings. This deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedure is part of a clinical trial conducted by Allegheny Health Network.
King turned to this treatment after years of struggling with opioid addiction, which stemmed from a severe car crash that caused debilitating headaches. Having tried multiple conventional treatments without success, she discovered the DBS clinical trial. She is the second patient enrolled, with the first patient reportedly two years clean. The FDA has permitted this trial for three patients due to the severity of the opioid epidemic.
The 1.2-millimeter electrode is surgically placed in a specific brain region where cravings originate. Dr. Tomycz explained that DBS, a safe and reversible procedure used for decades for movement disorders, is being explored for addiction. Preliminary evidence suggests it can control cravings, offering King a chance to regain her former self and engage in activities previously hindered by her addiction. AHN is actively seeking a third participant for the trial.
