![Caroline Freiermuth, MD, of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UC College of Medicine](https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2023/05/n21171898/jcr:content/image.img.cq5dam.thumbnail.500.500.jpg/1683826164169.jpg)
WVXU: Genetics play a role in opioid addiction. A UC doctor is drilling down on the specifics
Research could lead to the creation of a test for opioid use disorder
Since 2014, Ohio is in the top five nationwide in opioid deaths. Recently published research from the University of Cincinnati examines the role of genetics in opioid use disorder. WVXU produced a story on the research, interviewing lead researcher, Caroline Freiermuth, MD, of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UC College of Medicine. She and her team screened over 1,300 patients at three Ohio urban emergency rooms and found 20% had opioid use disorder.
The patients studied were at the ER for a variety of reasons. Some were already addicted to opioids, some had never taken them, and others were using them to manage acute pain. All of them were asked to be part of the study.
WVXU reported the 20% of people who had opioid use disorder is higher than what was previously thought — 2% in the general population and 7-15% in emergency room settings.
"This is still a hidden disease," Freiermuth says. "People are afraid to talk about it and we really do need to do a better job of screening so that we can identify the people who have already developed this disorder and really get them into the treatment they need."
For genetics, she looked at the dopamine reward pathway and the metabolism of opioids for the study.
Using artificial intelligence, her team is analyzing the entire data set, including things like the environment, mental health disorders, and past experiences to see what role they play.
"The biggest takeaway is this adds to the body of research that says there is really a genetic component," Freiermuth says. "We're starting to hone down what the genetic component is and we could get to a point in the future when we could run tests and if you have opioid use disorder, we could run the test on you and we could run it on your children so that we could counsel people in the future that they may also be at risk."
Read more about the research here.
Lead photo of Caroline Freiermuth, MD/Colleen Kelley/UC Marketing + Brand
Next Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is classified as a Research 1 institution by the Carnegie Commission and is ranked in the National Science Foundation's Top-35 public research universities. UC's graduate students and faculty investigate problems and innovate solutions with real-world impact. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
WLWT: UC hosts RESET epilepsy trial
May 3, 2023
WLWT spoke with the University of Cincinnati's Brandon Foreman about a clinical trial testing a new treatment for status epilepticus, the most severe and deadly form of epilepsy.
Study aimed at reducing opioid overdose deaths presents results
June 27, 2024
![Spectrum News logo](/content/dam/refresh/uc-news/news-icons/dark/spectrum-news.png)
The University of Cincinnati's John Winhusen and Caroline Freiermuth discussed the evidence-based practices implemented during the HEALing Communities Study to fight the opioid epidemic with Spectrum News.
WVXU: Genetics play a role in opioid addiction. A UC doctor is drilling down on the specifics
May 11, 2023
WVXU posted a web story about research from UC examining the role of genetics in opioid use disorder.
WLWT: COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Ohio
January 11, 2021
COVID-19 vaccine providers across Ohio will soon get better guidance about the next steps for getting shots into arms. Brett Kissela, MD, spoke to WLWT-TV, Channel 5 and said the benefits of the vaccine outweigh any potential side effects.
Spectrum News: Mobile stroke unit getting treatment to patients faster
September 15, 2023
Spectrum News recently highlighted the work of the UC Health mobile stroke unit that brings stroke care to patients faster and helped treat local patient Don Mundy.
UC launches Cincy BEARCAT study
September 16, 2022
The Cincy BEARCAT study aims to learn more about the causes of cardiac arrest. The just-launched study will create a biorepository of blood samples that can be used in this project as well as future research. The hypothesis is that there is a lot of diversity in cardiac arrest patients as far as the cause of the cardiac arrest.
Washington Post: Damar Hamlin is awake, has made a ‘fairly remarkable recovery,’ doctors say
January 6, 2023
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has made “substantial improvement” as part of a “fairly remarkable recovery” after he collapsed during Monday night’s game in Cincinnati and went into cardiac arrest on the field, his doctors said Thursday. Doctors made those comments at a news conference that received widespread coverage, including in the Washington Post.
WLWT: Drop in Hamilton County overdose deaths called 'amazing' by doctor who works to reduce harm, stigma
May 9, 2023
Hamilton County is bucking a national trend by seeing a drop in opioid deaths and overdoses. Rick Ryan, MD, of the Department of Emergency Medicine in the College of Medicine was interviewed about this by WLWT.
Spectrum News: University of Cincinnati study looks at impact of Narcan distribution
October 2, 2023
Spectrum News and Local 12 reported on research out of UC investigating the impact of a naloxone distribution collaborative.
Cincinnati.com: Not just fentanyl. Animal tranquilizer xylazine is embedded in Ohio's drug supply
October 24, 2023
The Cincinnati region is seeing an uptick in reports of fentanyl tainted with the horse tranquilizer xylazine. Cincinnati.com interviewed several local experts on the topic, including Richard Ryan, MD, of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UC College of Medicine.