Iatrogenic opioid dependence is endemic and legal: Genetic addiction risk score (GARS) with electrotherapy a paradigm shift in pain treatment programs

The mounting endemic of prescription iatrogenic opioid dependence in pain patients provoked this treatise about an alternative method that can be used to treat pain, improve function and reduce the risk of opioid dependence. It is well known that as well as the side effects reported for chronic opioid therapy, genetically predisposed individuals are at risk for opioid dependence. We propose the use of the Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARS) assessment to identify patients early in treatment who should avoid narcotic pain medications. Primarily, this review will be an exploration of the mechanisms of action of an electrotherapeutic alternative to narcotic treatment that can be used to augment tissue healing and reduce the pain associated with human injuries and neuropathies. This particular electrotherapeutic device was developed at the Electronic Waveform Laboratory in Huntington Beach, California and is called the H-Wave? device. The primary effect of the H-Wave?device is stimulation (HWDS) of small diameter fibers of “red-slow-twitch” skeletal muscle. Mechanisms of action of HWDS have been investigated in both animal and human studies. They include edema reduction, induction of nitric oxide dependent augmented microcirculation and angiogenesis, small muscle contraction that eliminates transcapillary fluid shifts, reducing the painful effects of tetanizing fatigue and gradual loading of healing injured muscle tissue that helps repair and remodeling. A recent metaanalysis found a moderate-to-strong-positive effect of the HWDS in providing pain relief, reducing the requirement for pain medication, with the most robust effect being increased functionality. We are proposing that GARS can be used to identify those at risk of developing opioid dependence and that the need for opioid analgesia can be reduced by use of this electro therapeutic alternative to opioid analgesia in the treatment of pain and injuries.

Hypothesizing “Reward” Gene Polymorphisms May Predict High Rates of Injury and Addiction in the Workforce: A Nutrient and Electrotherapeutic Based Solution

We hypothesize that individuals with genetic predisposition to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) may have greater likelihood of experiencing work related accidents. We further hypothesize that high risk populations will carry single or multiple polymorphisms associated with brain reward circuitry and/or brain reward cascade, including: Dopaminergic (i.e. DRD2 receptor genes);Serotonergic (i.e. 5-HTT2 receptor genes);Endorphinergic (i.e. pre-enkephalin genes);Gabergic (i.e. GABAA receptor genes);Neurotransmitter Metabolizing genes (i.e. MAO and COMT genes) among others (GARSRXTM). Analgesic addiction as well as “pseudoaddiction” must be treated to improve pain control and its management. We propose that non-pharmacological alternatives to pain relief, in high risk, addiction-prone individuals, are Electrotherapeutic Device(s) and Programs. We further propose patented KB220Z, a nutraceutical designed to release dopamine at the nucleus accumbens, will reduce craving behavior, in genetically programmed individuals. By utilizing both alternatives in DNA analyzed injured workers, a reduction in analgesic addiction (genuine or pseudo) leads to improved health and quicker return to work. We also hypothesize that this novel approach will impact costs related to injuries in the workforce. Effective management of chronic pain, especially in high addiction-prone workforce populations, is possible in spite of being particularly elusive. A series of factors encumber pain assessment and management, including analgesia addiction, pharmacogenomic response to pain medications, and genetically inherited factors involving gene polymorphisms. Additional research is required to test these stipulated hypotheses related to genetic proneness to addiction, but also proneness to accidents in the workplace and reduction of craving behavior. Our hypothesis that genotyping coupled with both KB220ZTM and the pharmaceutical-free Electrotherapy, will reduce iatrogenic induced analgesia addiction. This approach will achieve attainable effective pain management and quicker return to work. We propose outcomes such as the Reward Deficiency System SolutionTM may become an adjunct in the war against iatrogenic pain medication addiction.