National Center for Wellness & Recovery

At NCWR we’re collaborating with the University of Arizona on a promising new therapy to help fight opioid overdoses. It could have the potential to help save lives with a single long-lasting dose... Click the link below to read more. hopeforaddiction.org/fentanyl/resea…

#DYK Oxycodone, a semi-synthetic opioid for pain relief, has various street names & may appear differently if not prescribed. Be aware of these names: hillbilly heroin, kicker, OC, Ox, roxy, perc & oxy to keep yourself safe. #WellnessWednesday Learn more: getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/drugs/oxycodone

June 10 at 12 p.m. CST! @craigtwerner , Ph.D., Senior Director of Neuroscience at NCWR, will present: "Advancements in Our Understanding of Addiction Through Neuroscience" at the 2025 Oklahoma County Opioid & Stimulant Summit — virtually. Register below dccca.org/.../2025-ok-co…

Experimental Painkiller Could Outsmart Opioids – Without the High medschool.duke.edu/news/experimen… @DukeMedSchool

New research: Pre-surgery stress in females may increase levels of prolactin, a hormone that could increase post-op pain. Reducing prolactin levels before surgery may improve recovery and reduce the need for opioids. Study published in @PNASNews. 🔗 bit.ly/3SdCH6p

Researchers at Brown University have developed a microsampling blood test that detects opioids with greater sensitivity than standard urine tests—using only a minimal blood sample. Study: nature.com/articles/s4159… #OpioidCrisis #AddictionScience

About one in four kids in the U.S.—almost 19 million—live with a parent who has a substance use disorder, per @JAMAPediatrics. At NCWR, we’re focused on groundbreaking SUD and pain management research. Every day, we work against the clock to help save lives. @craigtwerner

Multimodal Cannabis More Likely on High Stress Days | Cannabis Sciences @Labroots labroots.com/trending/canna…

New Molecules Target Root Cause of Chronic Pain Without Opioids scitechdaily.com/new-molecules-…

The #DEATakeBack event offers free, anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at thousands of local drop-off sites nationwide. Properly dispose of unneeded prescription drugs Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find a collection site near you at DEATakeBack.com.

"@TulsaCounty is now ready to start distributing the settlement funds for projects that can help remediate the effects of the opioid crisis, including prevention and treatment services.” 📝 Apply: www2.tulsacounty.org/opioid-abateme…

This may be my favorite paper in a while. How do aversive stimuli affect dopamine release in the brain and influence drug use? I love Fig 1D, which shows that aversive stimuli increase cocaine self-administration. Aversive stimuli also reduce dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcC), which in turn drives rats to self-administer more cocaine and engage in escape behavior. This is a beautiful demonstration that aversive environmental stimuli naturally decrease the dopamine signaling system and promote both adaptive and maladaptive behavior through negative reinforcement.

🔬 We caught up with Svetlana Bobkova, M.D., M.S., a scientist at NCWR, at her recent poster presentation. This project began during her graduate studies at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and continues to evolve in her current role at NCWR.

Svetlana Bobkova, M.D., M.S., a scientist at the National Center for Wellness and Recovery, stands next to her research poster featuring graphs and results on a novel vapor self-administration model for drug delivery.

This week, the U.S. health and human services secretary announced the renewal of the Opioid Public Health Emergency Declaration, emphasizing the administration's dedication to combating the opioid overdose crisis. Read the full press release below: hhs.gov/about/news/sec…

US drug overdose deaths drop to lowest levels since June 2020, CDC data shows reuters.com/world/us/us-dr…

Fentanyl deaths skyrocket in Oklahoma as jails, prisons and rural communities try to combat the drug readfrontier.org/stories/fentan…

5 Common False Beliefs About Drug Use, Users, and Addiction | Psychology Today psychologytoday.com/us/blog/addict…

We are excited to see others joining the fight against addiction! The FDA approved a non-opioid pain medication for moderate-to-severe acute pain—the first new type in 20+ years. A safer alternative to opioids. Learn more: nature.com/articles/s4158…

This Valentine’s Day, don’t forget to show love to yourself. Self-love is a powerful act of healing. It’s about giving yourself the same kindness and understanding you offer to others. Today and every day, know that you are worthy of compassion, patience and care.