Scientists have found a way to boost the effectiveness of the most popular opioid overdose treatment, raising hopes of reducing drug-related deaths that claim tens of thousands of lives every year in the US.
An international research team discovered a chemical compound that improves the potency of naloxone more than seven-fold, potentially allowing the antidote to be given in smaller doses.
Opioid addiction and its lethal consequences have become an intense focus of US politicians and health authorities, with more than 70,000 Americans dying annually for the past several years from overdoses involving the drug. A surge in availability of powerful synthetic opioids such as fentanyl has exacerbated the crisis.