#WarOnDrugs
(Very good news)
Novel compound offers improved defense against fentanyl overdoses
Narcan and the compound 368 were found to bind at different sites of the opioid receptor, enabling them to complement each other in blocking opioids like fentanyl. This dual binding keeps Narcan attached to the receptor longer, providing extended protection at lower doses of the antagonist against the harmful effects of fentanyl.
https://phys.org/news/2024-07-compound-defense-fentanyl-overdoses.html
@corlin oh interesting
Good news indeed 👍
@corlin What would be really fun is a fast-acting, irreversibly-binding inhibitor of μ(+Δ?)-opioid receptors capable of being administered like Narcan.
That'd cure an overdose... but it gets better: afterwards, no matter what they do, no matter what kind of opioids they take, they'll (in theory, most likely) be stuck going through the *entire withdrawal process* because their opioid receptors are quite literally stuck shut (until the body makes new ones, which should take a few weeks).
@corlin That does two things:
#1: it reinforces the message of "don't overdose, you idiot" much more strongly than the comparatively brief unpleasantness inherent to receiving a dose of Narcan ever could, and
#2: it eliminates one more barrier to quitting, because if they're already stuck going through the whole withdrawal process to break their physical dependence, the only thing they really have to fight is their psychological dependence. Which is easier than fighting both simultaneously.
Note:
This is very important. If you have the opportunity to use Narcan, please stay with the subject and monitor vitals until emergency services show up.