Scientists have known for decades that opioids relieve pain by binding to molecular switches in the brain called mu-opioid (pronounced "mew-opioid") receptors. What they didn't know - until now - was ...

Two different versions of the mu-opioid receptor within a cellular membrane illustrate how the receptor changes its conformation to send a signal into the cell. Scientists captured six high-resolution ...

A new study finds that an increasing number of surgeries — and the painkillers that follow — could derail recovery for those who once misused opioids.

Drugmakers must educate doctors about opioid prescription, agency says. July 10, 2012— -- Companies that manufacture powerful, long-acting opioid painkillers will have to sponsor education ...

Scientists have known for decades that opioids relieve pain by binding to molecular switches in the brain called mu-opioid receptors. What they didn't know—until now—was exactly what happens next.

(THE CONVERSATION) Prescription opioid abuse and its downstream effects have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. On May 26, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) moved a step closer to ...

Some wise counsel in advance can reduce the amount of opioid painkillers a patient takes after orthopedic surgery, new clinic trial results show. Knee surgery patients were much less likely to take ...

(CNN) -- CVS and Walgreens have tentatively agreed to pay a combined $10 billion to settle lawsuits brought by states and local governments alleging the retailers mishandled prescriptions of opioid ...

The National Safety Council is calling on employers to develop workplace policies around the use of opioid prescription painkillers after reviewing research and court cases showing the negative ...

Two new reports underscore the danger of over-reliance on prescription painkillers like OxyContin. The first report, from Johns Hopkins University, suggests that our current heroin epidemic may have ...