14 DAY TRIAL // Researchers in the United States now say that curing heroin addiction could soon be achieved with the help of a simple jab.
Thus, it appears that these scientists have developed a vaccine that compels one's immune system to keep the drug from reaching the brain and from affecting it.
The vaccine works by targeting the drug and breaking it down into several products that, rather than impacting on the brain, get stuck in the bloodstream.
Metro reports that, as a result of its no longer reaching the brain and toying with it, the heroin fails to have extreme effects on the individual. For example, it is no longer capable of obstructing pain, the researchers explain.
Presently, they are yet to roll out clinical trials aimed as testing the vaccine's efficiency in terms of curing heroin addiction in human patients.
However, it appears that clinical trials carried out on laboratory rats have yielded promising results.
According to the same source, heroin-addicted rats no longer showed interest in getting a new fix once administered this vaccine.
“Heroin-addicted rats deprived of the drug will normally resume using it compulsively if they regain access, but our vaccine stops this from happening,” Professor George Koob reportedly said.
Should this vaccine have the same effect on humans, it could help over 10 million people worldwide to overcome their addiction.
“Heroin is metabolized very quickly to another compound called 6-acetylmorphine, which crosses into the brain and accounts for much of heroin's effect.”
“The vaccine effectively tracks the drug as it is metabolized, keeping the active chemicals out of the brain, and that, I think, explains its success,” Professor Janda further elaborated on the matter at hand.
This vaccine against heroin addiction was developed by The Scripps Research Institute in the United States.
The researchers are currently working on developing vaccines for methamphetamine, nicotine and cocaine addiction as well.