Dr. ABIGAIL KAY- THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY
Last week , the Club was pleased to welcome S. Abagail Key from the Thomas Jefferson University, who spoke to us on the subject of the opioid crises and its effect on mental health. Dr. Key gave a brief overview of how brains react to stimuli and the reactions to the creation of dopamine either from natural or external sources like opioids. The term dope comes from dopamine and developed naturally when the brain is "happy", and enters the system in dangerously amounts when opioids are introduced. The brain is "hijacked" by the opioids and is under great pressure to get more.
People react differently to exposure to excessive dopamine as it depends on their individual family medical history, their current medical status, and their genetics, and these differences can lead to the ease of addiction for the individual.
Dr. Kay then went into the current status of opioid treatments, outlining three drugs that are currently in use as treatment of the addiction.
We sincerely thank Dr. Kay for brining this important and timely information to us.