Japanese Scientists’ Non-Addictive Painkiller Offers Hope in Combating Opioid Crisis

South China Morning Post ^ | 28 Aug 2025 | Julian Ryall

[waterhill]

Does it have a name? Ancient Chinese secret? (In this case Japanese)

Come to think of it, I hadn’t heard about ring around the collar in a long time.....

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

A team of Japanese scientists has developed a new painkiller they say is as effective as fentanyl but without its addictive properties, a breakthrough that could reshape the fight against the global opioid crisis if clinical trials succeed.

People who are taking opioids for pain have nothing to do with the "crisis".

People who are taking crap to get high rarely are in physical pain.

[logi_cal869]

Ironically, I’ve learned a LOT from my own health experience and consequent research which I collated into a project I reference as ‘my book’ (I’ll probably never publish it because I have little regard for humanity this decade).

Reinforcing my decision are nearly continuous posts echoing the causes of malaise, pain & disease which fail to highlight the underlying cause: Inflammation.

If I was to rewrite my so-called ‘book’ and expound upon the mere 2 chapters referencing/analyzing the health effects & possible causes/solutions to inflammation I would include the following:

I don’t yet understand the specific mechanism behind why I suddenly began experiencing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis immediately following my bout with the SARS-COV-2 virus, but I cannot either ignore how easy it would be to become a habitual user of painkillers or how quickly I experience 100% relief (within 30 minutes) after eating a specific preparation of oily fish.

I have a theory about the effects of the spike protein and my own inflammation experience, but I’ve as yet failed to implement what I’ve labeled my ‘detox regimen’.

Your post highlights the latter and I’m going to have to seriously motivate to order some supplies to make that happen. If I’m right, the results should be transformative and I’ll report back here (assuming that yet another vanity post of mine isn’t banished by a rogue mod...).

[ifinnegan]

Does it induce euphoria like opiates?

[Bob434]

Tramadol was spoked to be the new “non addictive opioid replacement t” too. That didn’t work out so well, and wasn’t as effective at lain killing as opioid either. Hopeful,y this new drug however will deliver on the promises.

[ifinnegan]

Original research article.

Discovery and development of an oral analgesic targeting the α2B adrenoceptor

Noradrenaline is a major monoaminergic neurotransmitter involved in pain modulation through an α2A-adrenergic receptor. Hence, α2-adrenergic agonists such as clonidine and dexmedetomidine exhibit analgesic and opioid-sparing effects. However, their use is restricted to hospital settings due to potential risks of acute hypertension/hypotension and bradycardia. Here, we report that (Z)-1-(3-ethyl-5-fluorobenzo[d] thiazol-2(3H)-ylidene)propan-2-one [adrenergic inducer of analgesia (ADRIANA)], a newly identified α2B subtype-specific antagonist, specifically promotes noradrenaline release in the murine spinal dorsal horn and produces analgesic effects by stimulating the α2A-dependent pain inhibitory pathway. Orally administered ADRIANA has potent analgesic effects in several nociceptive pain models of mice and nonhuman primates without cardiovascular effects. Mice with genetic loss of the α2B adrenoceptor showed normal responses to mechanical pain, but the analgesic effect of ADRIANA was not significantly detected. These findings reveal that the α2B adrenoceptor is a promising target for nonopioid analgesics through the activation of the α2A-dependent descending pathway.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2500006122

[nickcarraway]

I think you are ignoring the faction of people who were prescribe painkillers for legitimate pain, but the doctors didn’t deal with the possibility of addiction responsibly. There are a lot of people who had terrible pain, and get addicted.

[nickcarraway]

I just saw a doctor talking about how depression, and other conditions, go hand in hand with inflammation.

[Getready]

Called “Adriana”...it stimulates a “adrenergic” receptor in the dorsal horn of the spinal column. This causes a release of noradrenaline which stimulate one of the pain relieving pathways. There are two drugs similar to that on the market ..clonidine and tizanidine......so we will see how good it is, whether there are other side effects, or drug interactions, etc...
Morphine, named after the Greek god, Morpheus (his parents were associated with sleep, rest, and relaxation)..morphine and other opiates to.have other effects beside pain killing...they produce euphoria, relaxation, and sleep, among other effects. People who are addicted to opiates are also addicted to the side effects, not only the pain relief..not to mention brain changes. This stuff should introduce more people to pain killing without addictive effects ..probably will not stop addiction in susceptible people.
FYI & IMHO

[waterhill]

New Zealand muscles?
500mgs of turmeric per day at 220 lbs. I’m good.

[waterhill]

So it’s not dolphin or shark fins?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

If you are taking pain killers for terrible pain, you are not addicted.

When you are taking pain killers and you are not in pain, you might be addicted or you might be afraid of the pain returning.

But the idea of someone who is in horrible pain being addicted because he wants the pain to stop is BS.

I know it is the story they want to tell you but it rarely happens in real life. People do not like being in pain. It is easier to write them off as "addicts" then face the fact that we are not giving them pain meds in high enough doses.

[Fai Mao]

My father has AS Syndrome and is in a lot of pain. Recently he started taking a somewhat large dose of vitamin D2. that significantly reduced his pain.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

They always say the new one is “non-addictive.”

[mabarker1]

People who are taking opioids for pain have nothing to do with the "crisis".

Thank You for correctly stating that Fact but unfortunately the brainless ptb will continue to make it All Our Fault !!!

Meanwhile the political class will continue to be allowed to get as much whatever drug they want with no consequences,repercussions or punishment while those who are in need of them for legitimate reasons will continue to be punished...

[Openurmind]

Well that ain’t no “fun”.

[wardaddy]

If you simply prescribe as needed for folks in pain who cares if it has some euphoria

Nearly all opioid deaths are from off market illegal drugs which of course fentanyl is a scourge so poorly measured apparently

You have a pain med script you’re treated like a criminal by cvs or Walgreens

These restrictions with such an aging population have created a bigger problem

[wardaddy]

Do you have chronic pain nick

Methinks that’s a negative

Lots of drugs have addiction both physical and mental

SSRI
HORMONES
ASPIRIN EVEN
TOBACCO or NICOTINEAND BOOZE
STEROIDS
if addiction is the benchmark we are going to have a problem in healthcare with Much more than pain relief

A crisis actually

Man some folks just can’t stand if folks feel anything chill

[nickcarraway]

No, fortunately I don't have chronic pain.

But people do have problems. Look at Brett Favre, as a quarterback, he had constant pain. And he talked about eventually developing an addiction to Vicodin, but he eventually beat it, and went on to greater success. He had a potentially fatal seizure.

Methinks that’s a negative

I'm not clear, are you saying it's a negative to have chronic pain, or not have it?